40-DAY FAMILY DEVOTIONAL LUTH ERA N CHURCH O F GUAM

P ENTECOS T 2015

2015

Connected to the Vine

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides

in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for

apart from me, you can do nothing.” John 15: 5

We went on a garden getaway, a women’s retreat, at

our church and were supervised by the God who is the

vinedresser as we were nourished by the words of his

son.

We are always able to be connected to the Son, who

feeds us through His word, who fills us with His beauty so

that our existence is His creation and a reflection of Him.

The branches create beauty and detail and eventually

fruit adding fullness, color and lushness to the vine. Jesus

asks us to bind ourselves to Him and be nurtured by His

holy energy and life-giving power and grace. If we

become conceited in the beauty and strength that has

been revealed in us, confused by the mirroring of

ourselves rather than recognizing in humility that He is our

source, we will be pruned, removed from His loving

grace and will find ourselves truly alone, spiritually

abandoned, empty without His love.

Dear Lord and Master, we thank you each day for your

daily supervision and nourishment, your life-giving presence

in us. Please continue to tend us, love us and grow us into

the kind of people who are reflections of you. In the name

of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

— Esther Rollen

Fix Your Eyes on the Cross

“[…] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

I had a very unpleasant series of experiences in business dealings and was wondering what other lessons God wanted me to learn. The process seemed to drag on and on and on. I seemed to feel like I’d learned all the lessons I could learn… Ehm, of course, I was wrong.

I finally realized that God, through the series of unpleasant experiences, brought me to another level of spiritual maturity. Instead of taking it as a victim, I had the choice to witness to others what Christ would do. I realized that what I did is nothing compared to what Christ did on the cross, but I learned that hardships can be God’s way of bringing out the best in a person and used as a chance to let Christ shine. I definitely learned a new perspective on life hardships.

We, too, can change our “glasses” and take the new perspective on life and let Christ light shine through us if we fix our eyes on the cross instead of the problem that lies in front of us. It is easy to be distracted by challenges in front of us, but we are encouraged to fix our eyes on Christ, who is blameless but died for our sins.

Dear Lord, may I, for the joy set before me, endure with patience the hardship of the trail. When my journey is over, I will see You face to face and live with You forever. (Prayer taken from ODB)

— Siska Hutapea

Mishpat

"Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness

like an everflowing stream." Amos 5:24

From the Old Testament, we see that God calls His

people to seek after justice, or mishpat. This Hebrew

word for justice is rich in meaning and occurs frequently

in the Old Testament. It is not just a strict sense of legal

justice, but something greater. It includes the observance

of good customs and practices, but it also speaks about

equitable, harmonious relationships between people —

especially the rich and the poor.

God loves justice, and He hates injustice. He sent

prophets to the Israelites to teach them to love justice and

to call them out when they were being unjust. However,

on many occasions, the Israelites refused to listen and

continued in their evil ways. But God promised, through

His prophets, that if they would repent and turn to Him,

then He would bless them.

If we are God's children, we will love the things that He

loves. We will love justice, and we will want to

encourage others to love justice as well!

Father, teach us to love justice and to walk in Your ways.

Turn our hearts toward you, and fill us with Your love, so

that we may love others.

— Andrew Orton

God is in Control

“In Him we were also chosen, having been

predestined according to the plan of Him who works

out everything in conformity with the purpose of His

will.” Ephesians 1:11

After three years on Guam, we were settled in San

Diego, my husband had orders to Iraq and I was offered

a great job. The next 12 months would be busy but

would put us in a great position financially to start a

family. We were happy with our decision, and we were

in control of our future. Then, the pregnancy test came

back positive. Our plan was derailed.

“I can’t do this alone!” “I just accepted a great job!”

“Why now?” We prayed for a baby during the past

three years, but not now — now that we had a plan!

After taking six tests (all positive), I conceded that I was

having a baby in nine months. My husband would be in

Iraq, but I could get him home. I marched into the

OB/GYN office and said, “I am due Dec. 8 and my

husband will be in Iraq. I want a date for induction so

they can send him home.” My doctor took one look at me

and said, “It doesn’t work that way.”

“It doesn’t work that way.” Life doesn’t work that way. I

could not possibly control this part of our lives. God knew

all along when He would trust us with His son. He knew

this was our time. God was in control, and although it

took me some time to realize it, realize it I did, and

God’s plan was perfect and beautiful.

It is so hard to wrap our heads around the fact that our

lives are already planned according to Him. We try so

hard to control aspects of our lives, and the truth is, we

cannot. “Letting go and letting God” is simple yet so very

hard, but we must trust and know God is in control!

God, please help us to turn to you in prayer rather than

taking matters into our own hands. You have the perfect

plan for our lives and you are in control. Amen.

— Jen Stocker

Take Time to Love

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

As I sit here with the fondest of memories of a beautiful

island that I had the privilege to live on for three years,

one word comes to mind, and it is “love.” God put us

right where we needed to be right when we needed to

be there. I am not saying that it was without hardship or

a few scary days mixed in, but it was good. And one

thing I know is that God is love, and God is good all the

time. He can be nothing but.

We met people who loved us and treated us as family,

and we still refer to them as that. The wonders never

cease when you let go and let God. Gregg and I both

were put in positions that neither of us deserved, but we

knew that God had use for us, and one of the things that

I feel He used us for was to love. We were able to love

people where we lived, went to church, worked and all

over this small but lovely island. It always puts me in awe

to see Him at work when you know that you are who He

is choosing to use.

We have had the great opportunity to serve in the U.S.

military and have gotten to meet many people in the

United States and overseas. One thing that God has

made sure of is that we received so much more in return

than the amount of love we poured out. For that I am

always thankful. Like I said, some of it does not look

pretty. Having to confront someone in love can be an

ugly thing, but God works all things out for His good, and

confronting in love is not being a bully or holier than thou.

Look at 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13. These verses will show

the attributes of love. Some may look like we can never

grasp them, but with Christ living in us, all things are

possible. Love can be as simple as a smile, hug or a

genuine, “How are you?” or as difficult as sharing in the

loss of a loved one with no words to say. But these things

come with loving our neighbors as ourselves.

I can’t help but to think of how much God has loved and

still does love me, even before the earth was created

and before I knew who He was (Luke 12:7, 1 John 4:19).

How exciting is this?! It amazes me to think that God

cannot love me any less or any more than He does right

at this moment! What a gracious Father we serve.

In closing, I encourage you to take the time to love others

as God has loved you. It may not look like what you

think, but it is pleasing to our heavenly Father who calls

Himself love.

— Stephanie Maye

A Spontaneous Gift

“Each of you should look not only to your own needs

but also to the need of others.” Philippians 2:4

When my son was 14, he had a “girlfriend.” One day I

showed her a book I owned about sign language. She

showed an interest, so I decided to give it to her. Soon

she moved away and I lost touch.

One day my son tells me he was in contact with her again

and that she had gone to a Christian college to learn sign

language as her major. She chose that subject because of

the encouragement she received and the book I gave

her.

Many times throughout our lives we will have

opportunities to give. The opportunities come when we

least expect them. It is good to learn to act to the Spirit’s

prompting right away, as these opportunities will pass

and may never present themselves again. We need to

learn not to be too attached to the possessions we have,

be they things, time or people. You never know what the

Lord will do with the gift you give, but you can be sure

that if the Lord prompts you to give it, then He has a

special use for it.

This young lady is now my daughter-in-law, and we have

a special bond that was strengthened so many years ago

when I followed the Lord’s prompting.

— Rebecca Fitzgerald

How God Defends His Name

Reading: 2 Kings 19:14-20

“I shut him up … like a bird in a cage.” These are the

words of the Assyrian King Sennacherib as his army

surrounded and sieged Jerusalem and King Hezekiah.

The Assyrians had destroyed and conquered everything

around them, and now King Hezekiah and the last

remnant of God’s people were trapped. The Assyrians

taunted them saying, “Your God will not save you. None

of the gods of the lands we conquered were a match for

our might, so how will your God save you?”

Hezekiah brought the impossible situation and insults and

laid them before God in the temple and prayed.

Hezekiah’s prayer reveals one thing: God is not like the

other “gods” of the land. The other “gods” were pieces

of wood and stone, but God created the universe, and

His reign is over all the kings of the earth. Hezekiah did

not just ask to be spared, but that the whole earth would

know that the Lord is the only God.

The real hero of the story is God, who says, “I have

heard your prayer. I will save this city for my own sake.”

Overnight, God wiped out the entire Assyrian army. And

He didn’t stop there. He promised that the remnant of His

people would again take root and bear fruit, a

foreshadow of a great salvation to come.

We can count on God to defend His name, but the great

news for us is how He defends His name: by keeping His

promises of love and faithfulness to His covenant people

— a covenant people we have been grafted into

because of Jesus Christ (Romans 11). Never was God’s

love and faithfulness shown more than when he sent His

son, Jesus, to die on the cross to save the whole world,

keeping his promise for the glory of His name.

Almighty Lord, your steadfast love for me is higher than

the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

You are mightier than any enemy or problem I face, and it

brings your glory to deliver me. Help me to pray for your

glory and to honor your name with my life. Amen.

— Kevin Graham

Come Boldly

“So then, since we have a great high Priest who has

entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold

firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours

understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the

same testing we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come

boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will

receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us

when we need it most.” Hebrews 4: 14–16

Jeni was our neighbor when we lived in Honiara, the

capital of the Solomon Islands. Although she was 12, Jeni

had never been to school and helped her mother at home

each day. One afternoon I arranged to take her to

“downtown” Honiara for the first time.

I drove the two miles to the blocks of shops and offices

that make up the downtown area. We saw Parliament

House, Town Ground and the post office. We drove

along the main wharf where ships come and go to the

islands. Then we walked along the dusty, hot streets into

secondhand clothing shops and Chinese stores. At the end

of the afternoon, I suggested that we go to one of the

main hotels along the water for a cold drink.

“But will they let me in?” Jeni asked — an

understandable question for a little girl who would

normally have no reason to be there.

“Don’t worry, you’re with me.” I said. “I’ve been here

before.” With that reassurance, Jeni took my hand and

we walked confidently into the lobby to enjoy a cold

drink by the sea.

The author of Hebrews reassures us in much the same

way that I reassured Jeni. How could we possibly come

into the presence of God with our tattered lives? Our

best intentions could never make us presentable to Him.

But then Jesus says, “Don’t worry. I’ve been where you

are. I’ll take you into my Father’s presence.” And so we

“come boldly to the throne” of God, who receives us with

mercy and grace, ready to help us when we need it most.

— Pam Daams

Courage in Him

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and

courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you

go." Joshua 1:9

Life is exciting, fun and full of new experiences.

However, there is another side of life most of us are

familiar with: the stressful side. Now, I’m sure that my

definition of stress is nothing compared to most of you.

This is because I’m only 14 years old. No matter what

age you are, no one likes stress or wants to be in a

stressful situation. (I hear stress gives you wrinkles.)

A few years ago, the night before my first day of fifth

grade, I cried. This was not your average “I don’t want to

go back to school cry.” It was a massive “I’m terrified and

don’t want to enter fifth grade” cry. In my defense, there

were a lot of things to be afraid of: failing, mean

teachers and forgotten supplies. It was a new situation!

This feeling went on for sixth and seventh grade too. My

mother always reminded me that God would be by my

side throughout everything and every situation. Both

good and bad. By eighth grade, it wasn’t so bad

anymore, and it was easier to adapt to new

surroundings.

The point of this experience is that life is going to

change, and there are times when things are going to be

stressful. To help cope with situations, remember that God

is always with you. God knows what’s best for you and

will always lead you on the right path. When you’re

confused and need advice, read the Bible or listen to

your heart, and the Holy Spirit will help you choose the

right thing to do. I used to think entering fifth grade was

the most grueling experience of my life… that is, until I

went to high school.

— Faith Hutapea

Old Camp Song:

God is so good,

God is so good.

He is so good;

He’s so good to me.

In the Old Testament, we see the people of Israel

rescued from slavery in Egypt through a series of

amazing and miraculous events. How do they respond?

They wander through the desert for the next 40 years,

complaining about their hard luck. How like them we are

sometimes! God does amazing and miraculous things in

our lives, too — and it doesn’t take us long to forget

them and begin our bitter complaints once again.

This year, I decided to try something different. I took 12

index cards and wrote the name of a month on each of

them. I then wrote down my particular prayer concerns

for my family, other people and myself on the card for

the month. Each time I finished my devotions, I’d pray

through that month’s card and whenever a prayer

received an answer, I’d jot down what happened in the

margins of the cards.

The results? Wow! I was so surprised to see the answers

those prayers received. There were occasions of healing,

of new jobs for people, of behavioral changes, of many

different kinds of new beginnings. I find myself much

more grateful now, and I read through previous months’

cards over and over to remind me of God’s care and

concern for His people, including me and the people I

love. I don’t think more healings or changes are

happening since I started keeping my cards, but I am

more aware of them. I don’t forget them as easily as I

would have in the past.

God is so faithful. It is hard to complain when we

remember all that he has done. We don’t need more

miracles, just a heart to appreciate the blessings we have

already received!

Lord, bless us today with answers to our prayers, and help

us remember your love through those answers. In Jesus’

name. Amen.

— Mary Johnson

Judging Others

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the

same way you judge others, you will be judged, and

with the measure you use, it will be measured to

you.” Matthew 7:1-2

Throughout the Bible we’re constantly reminded about

how quick we are to judge others before ourselves. I feel

like this Bible quote is constantly in my head because I’m

put in situations where this quote comes into play.

At my school there is this girl, and pretty much no one

likes to talk to her. Nobody cares to talk to her because

sometimes her personality isn’t the best. Between my

group of friends and the rest of my classmates, there is

nothing but judgment about her going around. I

constantly tell my friends not to talk about her and to

keep their comments to themselves. Sometimes I feel like

people wait for her to do something so they can talk

about her, which to me shows being quick to judge. When

other people have something to say about this girl, I

always ask them how they would feel if someone said

that about them.

I feel like in life humans have no problem complaining

about something or judging someone. Matthew 7:3 says,

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your

brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your

own eyes?” This quote to me has a powerful meaning.

Like God tells us, we’re so quick to judge others’ faults,

yet we don’t realize that we’re not perfect either.

— Tara Shelton

The Mom God Called Me to Be

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast;

it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own

way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at

wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all

things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all

things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

As Christians, we are familiar with this verse. We hear it

at weddings and recited in church sermons on love, and

we romanticize it as an example of the perfect love we

hope for in our significant others and family.

I knew this passage. It wasn't new to me. It was sweet

and I thought that the traits were automatic in any loving

relationship, until I became a mother of two. With my first

child, I was a great mom who had it together. I could

easily meet my child's needs and romanticized our

wonderful future where the only stress I had was making

sure my son didn't fall off of playground equipment or

swallow a jumbo grape. We had a great bond, and I

could do anything for him.

When my second son came along, my first was just

barely 2. I had a newborn and a toddler. Struggling with

anxiety and anger before in my life, I never would have

thought that those would come into play as a mother. The

first few weeks were so stressful and not only could I not

meet my toddler's needs, I could not meet my newborn's

needs. Both would need me at the same time and often

at the worst times, and I became impatient, frustrated

and angry. I would not be very loving, patient or kind

with my toddler when I was emotionally at my worst.

Reading through the Bible, I stumbled upon this passage

again. This time, it had different meaning. I thought about

it; it became my mantra. "Love is patient, love is kind..."

However, that wasn't enough to help me through difficult

periods in my day. I needed to be in the verse. I

replaced love with my name. "Jen is patient, Jen is

kind..."

Slowly, this meditation helped me realize that I didn't

have to be able to do everything perfectly. As a child of

God raising children of God, I needed to have these

traits. He made me a mom, and I wanted to glorify him.

When I am struggling the most, I meditate on this

passage and ask God to refocus my heart.

"Mom is patient and kind; mom does not envy or boast; is

not arrogant or rude. Mom does not insist on her own

way; is not irritable or resentful; does not rejoice at

wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. With Christ, mom

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,

endures all things."

I, mom, can love and encourage my children through

Christ's example. I can be the mom God has called me to

be when I focus on Him for strength. I can love my kids

with the love that has been given to me, and it is enough.

— Jen Zetterstrom

Palms of Psalms

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the

wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in

the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the

law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day

and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams

of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose

leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.”

Psalms 1:1-3

We bought two palm trees for the front of our house.

After three years, it is obvious that one palm tree is

outgrowing the other by a lot. One remained a 1-foot

tall tree, and the other grew to be nearly 6 feet with

wide, healthy leaves. It appears that one does not have

enough sunlight and/or water.

As I watched these two palm trees, and I read Psalms

1:1-3, I am reminded how we can be either of these two

palm trees in our spiritual lives. If we don’t constantly

expose ourselves to God’s word, the living water, and

grow in fellowship of the Spirit with fellow Christian, we

can easily stunt our growth and be dwarfed spiritually.

We need to constantly feed our mind with His Word and

ask the Holy Spirit to guard us.

Father, we want to grow to become like Christ. Please help

us, nourish us and strengthen us. In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

— Siska Hutapea

God Does It

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the

throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and

find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

My daughter Sadie is about to turn 2. Recently, her new

favorite phrase has been, "Sadie do it!" She uses this

phrase whenever there's a task at hand that needs to be

completed. Time to get dressed? "Sadie do it!" Time to

put shoes on? "Sadie do it!" Time to buckle the car seat?

"Sadie do it!"

The problem is that Sadie's hands aren't completely

capable of finding the arm holes in a long-sleeved shirt

or putting shoes consistently on the right feet or snapping

the tricky buckle in the car seat. She often gets mad when

she struggles or makes mistakes, yet she fusses at me if I

try to help her. "No, Sadie do it!" I want so badly to ease

her frustration by stepping in with my wisdom and ability.

I have to wonder how many times do I say the same thing

to my heavenly Father when He tries to help me? "I don't

need your help, God. I got this." The God of the universe

wants to help me fix a problem, be a blessing to

someone else or fulfill my life's purpose. But in faithless

moments, I doubt that I need His help to fix my mistakes

or show me what my next steps should be. Instead, I

believe the lie that my solo efforts and ensuing results will

be somehow superior if I move forward without consulting

Him, without asking His forgiveness, without seeking His

help.

Sadie has shown me that we overcome obstacles faster

and fulfill our purpose more completely when we work

together alongside our loving parent. Thanks to Jesus'

death and resurrection, we can approach God in

confidence whenever we need help. So the next time you

find yourself frustrated with how to proceed, consider

how it might be easier if you stop and wait for help from

the very throne of grace. Your loving Father awaits with

gentle hands to guide you.

— Peyton Roberts

Signs from God

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was

thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and

you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I

was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you

came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him,

saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed

you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we

see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and

clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in

prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them,

‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of

these my brothers, you did it to me.’’

Matthew 25:35-40

I often wondered why God does not give me a clear sign that he is with me. I also worry about my faith not being strong enough to allow myself to see the signs he may be showing me. But when I truly think about the times I need it the most, I can see God is right here showing me. Recently on a typical busy day where nothing seemed to be going right, I received a call at the last possible minute that reminded me I had one hour to pick up my kids and run a couple more errands. So off I went, repeating these things in my head: pick up kids, drop them home, run errands and then finally pick up prescriptions at Kmart. As I dropped the kids home and now repeated the list to them, the pressure of time compounded. My oldest daughter ran in and grabbed the documents I needed for the errands and decided to join me. Off we

went knocking out the first errand and then the second. What a relief. I made it all in time. Now I just needed to get to the Kmart pharmacy and home as soon as possible. The long day and stress had taken its toll, and I just wanted to call it a day. So as I breathed a sigh of relief and headed to Kmart, my daughter pointed to an elderly man that I have never seen before in this particular area. He just stood there in between the traffic of cars that were coming and going. I told my daughter that it was such a sad sight and continued on my way to Kmart. My daughter then told me how sad it was that he just needed to go to Kmart. I guess in my state of exhaustion and hurry to get home, I did not see the sign he held. I came to a stop and stared at the man in my rearview mirror. I was at a loss of what to do. I told my daughter that we could not pick up a strange man and that I was in a hurry and had no more time. But at the same time, I could not find it in me to just drive off. As we turned the car around, I told my daughter that he could be Jesus. I don't know why those words came out at that time, but they just did. And while we drove back, we agreed we would see what he needed and just get it for him. Once we approached the man to offer our help he immediately began to tell us what a blessing we were and that he has a close relationship with God. This older mad also began to tell us that he would ask God to give us extra blessing, as God has been doing it forever and what's a few more? I could feel the goosebumps all over my body and knew my daughter felt the same. She turned and looked at me with amazement on her face. We both knew that this was truly a blessing and God was in our presence. In the end we gave the man a ride as he needed a TV. And I learned patience that day too. It took about 20

minutes just to help him in the car due to his disabilities. It also took another 20 minutes to get him out of the car. So my quick run to the Kmart pharmacy was not what I had planned. But I did go home with a smile on my face and a cure for everything.

— Angie Duenas

Trustworthy Lord

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He

cares for those who trust in him.” Nahum 1:7

One gloomy morning, as I was on my way to school, my

mom found out our house was being robbed right at that

moment. We turned the car around and drove straight

back to our house. What we saw was something no child

should endure, a man running out of their house with their

most valued possessions in hand.

I was mortified. My first instinct was to pray. Scared, I

started chanting the “Our Father” prayer in my head.

Then, I realized there was nothing to fear when God is

by my side. It made a huge difference in the situation.

What I am trying to say is cast your worries on God and

trust Him. That is probably the most important thing you

can do. It makes life 100 percent easier. It’s an amazing

feeling, being able to never have to fear or worry

because God is by your side.

To end this devotional, I want to say a simple, short

prayer my teacher taught me.

God is good all the time. All the time God is good. Amen.

— Grace Hutapea

Being a Witness

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has

come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in

Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends

of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Years ago when I first studied this verse, I was struck by

the fact that I would be a witness. God gives me no

choice. Jesus clearly tells believers they will testify to His

miracles and the difference faith makes in their lives.

Does my life reflect the joy of being a Christian? Do I act

like a recipient of His power and love? The way I live my

life is a major part of my testimony. “Use words if you

have to” is the way one of my Bible study groups would

describe this.

Back then I had no clue that God would be leading Sean

and me to Guam. While not the ends of the earth, Guam

is certainly farther away from family and friends than I

would like. I did have a choice about my attitude. I could

decide to feel joy in my surroundings and new

experiences, or I could decide to be miserable so far

apart from those loved ones. Most of the time, I do

choose joy, but it is all too easy to veer toward a

negative attitude. What helps me avoid this?

After being on Guam a few years, my focus on this verse

has changed. I am no longer amazed that God uses me

and am no longer concerned about the “where” of my

witness. God puts me where He wants me.

Now I need to zero in on the first part of the verse: “But

you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come

upon you.” Yes, I have the power to speak up — the

power to let others know what Christ has done in my life

and what He can do in the lives of others. I also have the

power to help me choose joy each day. He will guide me.

I need to tap into that power of the Holy Spirit each

morning rather than just let that power sit useless because

I did not seek it.

How many opportunities do I miss to share God’s love

with others? How many times do I sit in my negativity just

because I failed to make use of the power I have been

gifted as a believer in Christ? There is no way I can be a

better witness on my own than when I ask the Holy Spirit

to guide my every word and action. Thanks be to God.

— Janet Easter

Teasing the Waves

“Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning.” 1 Corinthians 15:34a On our drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, we stopped by Santa Monica Beach. It was early evening on a summer day, and the waves were just mesmerizing. Our then 6-year-old son, Christian, started to dip his feet on the edge of the wave and continued playing with the waves. He would run to the deeper part when the wave subsided. When the waves came back, he would be laughing and running back to the beach, trying to outrun the waves. It was so much fun for him and even for us watching, and his brother started to join. They kept doing this for a few minutes, but each time they would go deeper and deeper into the ocean. Suddenly a big one hit them and soaked them wet. As I think about this experience, it reminded me of how

most sin starts. Normal people do not typically wake up

and have a mission to commit a sin that day. We started

at the edge, and before we know it, we are in too deep

and soaking. Saint Paul called us to come back to our

senses, as we ought, and stop sinning. C.S. Lewis in “The

Screwtape Letters” wrote, “Indeed the safest road to Hell

is the gradual one — the gentle slope, soft underfoot,

without sudden turnings, without milestones, without

signposts …” We don’t ever have to do this fight alone.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide us every day.

Father, guide us and lead us in our daily lives. Deliver us

from evil. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

— Siska Hutapea

Butterflies

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

April 2015 was a busy month for me, and at the same

time my youngest son, Harlee Eide, was coming back

home after nearly eight years living in Portland, Oregon.

I was excited to have him come back home but had so

many uncertain emotions running through my mind.

One sunny and hot day after work I picked up my

grandsons from their father’s apartment and came home

super tired. I parked my car, went inside my house and

asked my grandsons to play outside so I could have some

peace and quiet to recharge my energy. It didn’t take

long before my grandson Devin screamed. Irritated by

his loud scream, I opened the door and asked why he

was screaming. His older brother said that Devin was

scared of caterpillars. There were close to a hundred

caterpillars on our house fence and the tree outside of

the fence. My husband, Jack, went out, held one

caterpillar on his hand and explained to him how

caterpillars don’t bite and that they would turn into

butterflies. Devin instantly got over his fear.

Days went by and my fence and the tree looked as if

they had bits of gold and silver hanging from them, and

they glowed at night. We were anxiously waiting to see

the first butterfly hatch.

One day before the Holy week, the first group of

butterflies hatched, and during the Holy Week my fence

and the tree branches had butterflies hanging all over as

they waited to spread their wings and fly. I even cut a

few branches with cocoons hanging and brought them to

school to teach a lesson to my students.

For some mysterious reason, the butterflies picked my

fence to lay their eggs and taught me that life has

different seasons, and perhaps my son is starting a new

season of his life here at home with his family.

God allows us to witness the amazing life cycles of his

creations, such as butterflies, to help us grow in our faith

and strengthen our walk with our Lord Jesus.

— Roseleen Ary

Hesed

"The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." Exodus 34:6-7 Today, let's talk about love. The Hebrew word for this is hesed, which means loving kindness but also comes with the idea of faithfulness or steadfastness. God's love for us is never-ending, unconditional and rich in mercy. This quality is absolutely central to God's character. Have you ever heard the saying, "God is love"? That's what we're talking about. Since hesed is such an important part of who God is (like justice), He calls us to exemplify that same character trait! In the Old Testament, He desired compassion from the Israelites over and above the ritualistic sacrifices that He required. When Jesus was asked which commandment is the greatest, he chose love for God and love for others. Everything else depends on these two commandments! As followers of Christ, we are to be known for our love. Father, You have taught us to love one another, and You have shown us love through the example of Your Son, Jesus. We pray for Your Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and to give us power to love others. We pray that as we spend time in Your presence, we would be transformed into people that love and desire Your justice here on Earth.

— Andrew Orton

Giving My Last $20 Bill to God?

Scripture reading: 1 Kings 17: 7-16 “Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.’” 1 Kings 17:13 In August 1995, I was a poor seminarian student visiting the Presbyterian Church of Duluth, Minnesota. They asked me to give a message for the church on that Sunday. In the middle of the service, we had the time of offering, and I just found out that I had nothing left in my wallet but a $20 bill. Big dilemma. “Shall I give that bill or let the offering basket pass?” I knew that God would not be mad at me if I kept that money since I still needed it for my visit. Then, the story of that admirable faithful widow flashed into my mind. She had just a handful of flour and a little oil in the jug, enough for her and her son for a last meal and they will die. “First make a small cake for me,” said Elijah to her, and she could eat with her son afterwards. First? Wasn’t that selfish? We know the end of the story. She gave Elijah, the servant of God, a cake made out of her last handful flour. A miracle took place. She did as Elijah told her according to the promise of God’s word, verse 14, and there was food every day for her, her son and for Elijah the prophet for all the years of famine on the land. Wow!

Going back to my story, I believe God’s Spirit helped me. I decided to give that last $20 for the offering. I was happy. I wanted to honor my God first and to trust him with whatever would happen after that. A miracle happened after the service. A deacon came to me and offered a check of more than $400 from the church. I was shocked, humbled and amazed. It was so fast and so astounding. I thank God for teaching me that day to put His kingdom and His will first and above all things as Jesus promised in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things will be added unto you.” God helped me to make a big leap of faith during that visit to Duluth. He is faithful, trustworthy. Question: Is there any step of faith the Spirit is asking you to do to honor Jesus before anything else? Lord Jesus, help me to trust and to love you more than anything and anyone else. Amen.

— Daniel Rakotojoelinanadrasana

Story Stewards

“Take heed … lest you forget the things your eyes have seen … And teach them to your children and your grandchildren.” Deuteronomy 4:9

Many people take great care to make sure their resources are used well after they die. They set up trusts, write wills and establish foundations to guarantee that their assets will continue to be used for a good purpose after their life on earth is done. We call this good stewardship.

Equally important, however, is being good stewards of our life story. God commanded the Israelites not only to teach their children His laws but also to make sure they knew their family history. It was the responsibility of parents and grandparents to make sure their children knew the stories of how God had worked on their behalf (Deut. 4:1-14).

God has given each of us a unique story. His plan for our lives is individualized. Do others know what you believe and why? Do they know the story of how you came to faith and how God has worked in your life to strengthen your faith? Do they know how God has shown Himself faithful and has helped you through doubts and disappointments?

The faithfulness of God is a story that we have the privilege to pass on. Record it in some way and share it. Be a good steward of the story that God is telling through you.

How great, O God, Your acts of love! Your saving deeds would now proclaim that generations yet to come may set their hope in your great name.

— D. DeHaan

Our Father’s World

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1

When Amanda Benavides was a sophomore at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, she began to rethink her views on Christian stewardship of the earth. Amanda had grown up thinking that being conscious of the environment had nothing to do with her relationship with Jesus. All this changed when she was challenged to consider the Christian’s role in caring for the planet — especially how that relates to reaching the most needy in the world.

Our stewardship of the beautiful world God gave us and our care for the people in it, express our reverence for God and is grounded in two Biblical principles.

First, the earth belongs to God (Ps. 24:1-2). The psalmist praised the Lord for His creation and His ownership of it. The heavens, the earth and all that are in it are His. He created it, He is sovereign over it (93:1-2) and He cares for it (Matt. 6:26-30).

Second, God delegated the responsibility for the well-being of His earth to us (Gen. 1:26-28). This includes appreciation of and care for both nature (Lev. 25:2-5, 11; Prov. 12:10) and people (Rom. 15:2).

This is our Father’s world. Let’s show Him how much we love Him by respecting it and caring for the people who populate it.

The natural world that God has made must not be used at whim; We serve as stewards of His earth, responsible to Him.

— D. DeHaan

Investing in the Future

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:20

Jason Bohn was a college student when he made a hole-in-one golf shot that won him $1 million. While others may have squandered that money, Bohn had a plan. Wanting to be a pro golfer, he used the money as a living-and-training fund to improve his golf skills. The cash became an investment in his future — an investment that paid off when Bohn won the PGA Tour’s 2005 B.C. Open. Bohn’s decision to invest in the future instead of living for the moment was a wise one indeed.

In a sense, that is what Jesus calls us to do. We have been entrusted with resources — time, ability, opportunity — and we decide how to use them. Our challenge is to see those resources as an opportunity to invest long-term. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” is how Jesus put it in Matthew 6:20. Those protected treasures cannot be destroyed nor taken away, Jesus assures us.

Think of your resources: talent, time, knowledge. These are temporal and limited. But if you invest them with an eye toward eternity, these temporary things can have enduring impact. What is your focus? Now or forever? Invest in the future. It will not only have an eternal impact, but it will also change the way you view life each day.

Whatever is done in love for Christ will one day have heaven’s reward. Today let’s do what we can for Him, Our loving Savior and Lord.

— Hess

Fishing Where They Ain’t

“One of the Pharisees asked [Jesus] to eat with him.

And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to

eat.” Luke 7:36

I have a good friend I fish with now and then. He’s a very

thoughtful man. After climbing into his waders and boots

and gathering up his gear, he sits on the tailgate of his

truck and scans the river for 15 minutes or more, looking

for rising fish. “No use fishing where they ain’t,” he says.

This makes me think of another question: “Do I fish for

souls where they ain’t?”

It was said of Jesus that He was “a friend of tax

collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34). As Christians, we are

to be unlike the world in our behavior, but squarely in it

as He was. So we have to ask ourselves: Do I, like Jesus,

have friends who are sinners? If I have only Christian

friends, I may be fishing for souls “where they ain’t.”

Being with nonbelievers is the first step in “fishing.” Then

comes love — a heart-kindness that sees beneath the

surface of their off-hand remarks and listens for the

deeper cry of the soul. It asks, “Can you tell me more

about that?” and follows up with compassion. “There is

much preaching in this friendliness,” Pastor George

Herbert (1593–1633) said.

Such love is not a natural instinct. It comes solely from

God. And so we pray:

Lord, when I am with nonbelievers today, may I become

aware of the cheerless voice, the weary countenance or the

downcast eyes that I, in my natural self-preoccupation,

could easily overlook. May I have a love that springs from

and is rooted in Your love. May I listen to others, show

Your compassion and speak Your truth today.

When amazed by His love for me, to love Him back

became my prayer. I sought an answer sincerely. It was:

Love the neighbor who’s there.

— Verway

We are to be channels of God’s truth — not reservoirs.

In Harmony

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10

I love playing the five-string banjo. But it has one drawback. The fifth string will harmonize with only a limited number of simple chords. When other musicians want to play more complicated music, the banjoist has to adapt. He can lend marvelous melodic tones to a jam session only by making the right adjustments.

Just as musicians adjust with their instruments, we as believers also need to make adjustments with our spiritual gifts if we want to harmonize with others to serve God. For instance, those who have the gift of teaching must coordinate with those who have the gift of organizing meetings and with those who make sure meeting rooms are set up and cleaned. All of us have spiritual gifts, and

we must work together if God’s work is to get done.

The apostle Peter said, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). Stewardship requires cooperation. Think about your spiritual gifts (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4; 1 Peter 4). Now reflect on how you can dovetail their use with the gifts of other believers. When our talents are used in a complementary way, the result is harmony and glory to God.

Without a note we sing in tune, an anthem loud we bring, when willingly we give our gifts of labor to our King.

— Branon

Keeping in tune with Christ keeps harmony in the church.

Spendthrifts or Stewards

“See that you abound in this grace [of giving].” 2 Corinthians 8:7

A mortician at Forest Lawn Cemetery in California told author Gilbert Beers about a man who many years ago spent $200,000 on his own funeral. Estranged from his wife and children, that bitter man squandered all his

money on his own burial and left them nothing.

Because the casket and other expenses added up to only $100,000, he ordered that the remaining $100,000 be spent on orchids. Only three people attended that memorial service. What a warped sense of values! What a waste of money that might have been used to help the needy or to support a worthy cause. And what a lesson we can learn from such egocentric folly.

We all need to ask ourselves if we are squandering the resources God has entrusted to us on worthless things. If so, we need to heed what Jesus said in Luke 16:9, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

When we use our resources to benefit others, especially to communicate the gospel to them, we reap eternal dividends. Someday they may be at heaven’s door to greet us. Let’s be good stewards of what God has given us.

If we've been blessed with riches, we should be rich in deeds; God wants us to be generous in meeting others' needs.

— Sper

Riches have eternal value when we use them to bless others.

Use it Wisely

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” Psalm 24:1

God gave us an incredible gift: the beautiful world in which we live. Naturally, though, as we share this planet with so many others, we run the risk of seeing its beauty diminished and its resources depleted.

While we have every right to use the resources God placed in and on the earth, we also need to recognize our responsibility to respect the earth as His and to preserve its resources for future generations.

In Genesis, the Lord told Adam (and, by extension, all of us) to “tend and keep” the earth (2:15). Because we don’t know when Jesus will return, it would not be responsible stewardship to leave our children and grandchildren without the resources that God provided

for them as well.

We might think our individual efforts to preserve God’s world aren’t valuable. But we can all work together to do our part. Buying and consuming less, simplifying, repairing instead of replacing, reusing and recycling are all good stewardship practices.

One way we can testify of our love for God and to express our gratitude for what He has done is by tending and keeping the earth and all that it offers. Until the

Lord returns, let’s use our world wisely.

The natural world that God has made is given to us and must be shared. May generations yet to come be thankful that we cared.

— D. De Haan

God created the world and placed it in our care.

Spared From Death

“You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20

On Aug. 6, 1945, Kanji Araki, then a toddler, was playing on the floor. Although an air-raid siren had sounded, few paid it any heed since Hiroshima had previously escaped bombing. Then a blinding flash lit up the sky. Superheated air rushed at tremendous speed, knocking down buildings and setting the city center ablaze. In the days that followed, Kanji’s grandmother, brother and sister died from radiation sickness.

As Kanji grew up, he experienced emotional conflict about those who suffered and died because of the bomb. His parents were Christians, but Kanji adopted a secular view of life. Yet he felt a growing emptiness inside. He began to study the Bible to discover for himself who Jesus is. At a spiritual turning point, Kanji put his trust in Christ, and his empty heart was filled with God’s wonderful assurance. When the Lord led him into the ministry, he cited 1 Corinthians 6:20 and said, “I was spared from death so that my life might have a higher purpose in serving God.”

The apostle Paul had also been spared to serve God. “I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you,” he said (Colossians 1:25). What has God entrusted to you?

Lord, I thank You for salvation, for Your mercy, full and free. Take my all in consecration, glorify Yourself in me.

— Codner

Gratitude

“Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” Matthew 15:28 Like so many of us, growing up I was often reminded to be thankful for what I had. A powerful witness to this calling is the following story told to them by a priest in Jordan. One of our most active church members — a woman who faithfully attends every mass, makes home visits to indigent Christian families and helps the church in reaching these poor — asked me to visit with her family late one evening. Upon arriving, I was shocked to see that she is poorer than the poor she visits to help. Her two children sleep on the floor atop a torn mattress with very light sheets covering their thin bodies. Her husband earns around $220 a month, not enough to meet their basic needs. The life of this woman, so grateful of the little given to her that she would make home visits to those in need, is a powerful witness to me. It is a reminder that even in the face of scarcity in our own lives, God’s grace is enough to call us to stand up for the livelihoods of those around us. It is a reminder to us all that we play an important role in God’s redemptive and restoring work that is happening right now! Let’s join together with gratitude in this work that we have been so gracefully given! God of gratitude, who sets a table before us, we give thanks for the blessings you place in our lives. May our gratitude call us out into the world to serve those you love and bring healing to a broken world. In your son's name, Amen.

— Chandler Carriker, LWR's Congregational Resources Specialist

Abundance “He said to me, Mortal, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey.” Ezekiel 3:3

Food is one of the most prominent metaphors throughout the Bible. Harvest, manna, honey, wine and wedding banquets: these things paint pictures throughout scripture of God’s blessings. “You are what you eat” and eating is such an important piece of life that there’s almost no more powerful metaphor in scripture. Ezekiel isn’t just given a scroll to read, he is told to eat that word, to chew it, taste it and ingest it, so that God’s word literally becomes part of him. Ezekiel does not become a prophet who merely speaks God’s word; Ezekiel is sustained by God’s word, and it is sweet as honey. In other parts of Scripture, God’s word isn’t food; it’s the other way around: food is God’s Word. We repeat Jesus’ words in worship and we consume that Word: “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” The people with whom Lutheran World Relief works don’t always have the food they need to sustain themselves or their families. Many people can’t grow enough food on their own land; others don’t even have the land. By helping people around the world, we both respond to and participate in God’s word. God’s promise to us is everlasting, sustaining life. God of abundance, you give of yourself in the bread and wine that feeds us. Send us out in the world to share abundantly with those who have only known scarcity. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

— Dan Ruth, LWR's Interactive Marketing Manager

Hope

“For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” Deuteronomy 15:11 The late Luther Seminary professor, Gerhard Forde, said: “It is false optimism that brings ultimate despair.” Life can collapse without warning. Disasters strike in our personal lives as well as on a global scale. One evening, my then 15-year-old son ended up hospitalized after a basketball game. As I sat in the cold emergency room, consoling him in his personal pain, reports of a catastrophe unfolded on the TV screen. Haiti, barely surviving in backbreaking poverty, had absorbed a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. On my much smaller telephone screen, e-mail messages zipped around the world as LWR quickly sprang into action. Regretfully, we must accept the inevitably of disaster and human suffering. Evil is as real as it is often unexplainable. LWR commits to carry the compassion of Lutherans into the epicenter of life’s earthquakes. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Deeply woven into the fiber of our tradition is the conviction that all people are made in the image of God. If we accept this, we cannot be content to see people hungry or suffering.” God of hope, who heard the cries of Israelites in Egypt, hear the cries of those who suffer in a broken world. Move in us to respond to those calls swiftly with grace and mercy. Amen.

— John Nunes worked as LWR's President and CEO

Word “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31 Is there a relationship between spiritual feeding and doing the work of God? Martin Luther would assert, “Yes!” Here’s how he draws the link: “The Word of God always comes first. After it follows faith; after faith, love; then love does every good work, for … it is the fulfilling of the law.” Feeding on God’s Word means feeding our faith with Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The more we hear God talk to us through the Word, all the more will good works flow through our lives. All the more we will receive strength to serve others. All the more we will reduce the risk of being emotionally overwhelmed by the magnitude of seemingly unsolvable global issues. And all the more we will fulfill God’s will to be doers of justice and lovers of mercy (Micah 6:6–8). Now that we are nourished with new life in Jesus’ name, we become God’s answer to the spoken or unspoken prayers, mouthed through tears by children and adults around the world, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Talk is not cheap. God our Father, deliver us your Spirit through your life-giving Word. Through the grace of the Trinity, connect us to all your people and call us to action in your name. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

— John Nunes worked as LWR's President and CEO

Compassion

“Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the

mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of

Zebedee’s sons.” Matthew 27:56

Have you ever wondered where Jesus and his disciples

got their money? Women made it possible. He chose

women as his backers, most specifically “Mary

Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph,

and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.” These women

made it possible.

When viewing the ministry of Lutheran World Relief, we

must also respond with a similar refrain: Women make it

possible. Certainly, many men contribute their time,

money and talents to a ministry that provides food,

shelter and a self-determined path out of poverty to

millions of people. We celebrate the compassionate

calling of all, lifting up our collective efforts to show

mercy to all God’s children.

At the same time, we also lift up those women who have

made it possible. From raising the next generation of

faithful Lutherans, to leading communities across the

globe to grow food, dig wells and invest in their future.

Our work in 35 countries depends on women. On college

campuses and in congregations, women lead by example

— drinking Fair Trade coffee, sewing quilts, wrapping

Personal Care Kits, giving LWR Gifts and sharing their

voices in advocacy. These women made it possible.

God, who chose a woman to deliver his Son, who called

women to sustain Christ's ministry and who imparted to

women the good news of the resurrection, likewise chooses

us in birth, sustains us in life, and imparts good news to us

to death. We remember the women of our lives, living and

departed, who continue to guide our callings and exemplify

the love of Christ in our midst. In Christ Jesus, who gives us

life and love, Amen.

— Daniel Lee, LWR's Vice President of External

Relations

Faith

“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The

disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don't

you care if we drown?’" Mark 4:38

Frustrated, the disciples berate Jesus for his apparent

indifference to the danger. They want him to get up and

help them bail water from the boat. So the disciples are

amazed and stunned when Jesus settles the wind and

sea. They certainly didn’t expect their mortal friend Jesus

to calm the storm. Suddenly their image of Jesus takes on

another dimension.

Jesus challenges the disciples’ expectations, responding

not only with weather-altering assistance but also turning

around and questioning them, calling them to grow

beyond their limited expectations of him, asking, “Why

are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” Even though

fear easily overrides faith under precarious conditions,

Jesus urges them to have faith anyway. What does it

mean to have faith in the midst of conflicts and disasters?

Are we to wait for Jesus to save the day?

If we instead allow Jesus to challenge our expectations

of who he is and how he responds to suffering in the

world, our faithful response to disasters and conflicts

broadens as well. When we are asleep to the suffering

of those in our global “boat,” their calls rouse us to

action. Despite our shortcomings and fears, Christ acts

through us to calm the storms in turmoil ridden places. In

amazement, we learn that we are called to be, as Martin

Luther said, “little Christs” in service to others.

Jesus, who calls us to respond to suffering in the world,

empower your people to withstand the chaos of wind and

waves. Give peace to those who have known only war and

give comfort to those who have known only cold. In the

name of the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Amen.

— Erin Brock worked as LWR's Program Associate

for Constituent Engagement

Accompaniment “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 Sometimes we are like the bleeding Pharisees. Sometimes we think that by not looking and not seeing what is unjust around us means that we didn’t violate the law. That is not enough. God calls for preventative justice. The key to be humble before God is to ensure that we are walking with awareness and that we are walking humbly. The best example we can look to for humility and obedience is Jesus. Jesus died on the cross because he did what his father asked of him. He died, nailed to the cross. The more I have read and thought about Micah 6:8, the more I understand why the passage leads Lutheran World Relief ’s strategy. Justice, mercy and obedience to God are fundamental elements of LWR’s work and these three lead to true accompaniment. We need to step back and remember that accompaniment isn’t in the papers, the documents or the statistics. Accompaniment isn’t just in looking at what is wrong. And accompaniment isn’t just in “walking with;” sometimes accompaniment means we need to be like a stone in someone’s shoe: never giving up and even possibly annoying until change occurs — to all involved. What does Micah 6:8 mean to you? Gracious Lord, what do you require of me, but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you? Fill me with the grace to follow that call, Amen.

— Don Pedro Veliz, LWR's Regional Representative for the Andean Region

Burdens

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will

fulfill the law of Christ … For all must carry their own

loads.” Galatians 6:2, 5

These verses seemed a contradiction to me for many

years, until I learned more about the difference between

“burdens” and “loads.” Here’s how I think of it now: A

load is like a backpack full of the things one person

needs to carry with them to make it through the day. A

burden is like a cart. One person could pull it if they

have to, but it’s really made to be pulled by a team.

That’s how I think of Lutheran World Relief’s work in the

world. Through development projects that help build

resilience, deepen resources and expand knowledge, we

enable people and communities to “carry their own

loads.” But when an emergency comes — a flood, an

earthquake, a conflict, even a drought — the load grows

into something bigger. It becomes a burden.

Here’s where we come in. We are called to fulfill Christ’s

law by bearing one another’s burdens. The good news is:

because it’s Christ law, by the power of the cross it has

already been fulfilled. Now it is a calling that’s given to

us through grace. It’s a calling we don’t face alone but

with the whole body of Christ. Through your prayers,

generous gifts and donations of Quilts and Kits, we reach

out together as Christ’s hands in the world. LWR is so

thankful for your faithfulness in living out this shared call.

Thank you, God, for calling us to work alongside you in

our global community. Give us the strength and wisdom to

reach out at the right time and in the right way to help

bear one another's burdens when the load grows too heavy.

Amen.

— Melanie Gibbons, LWR's Quilt & Kit Ministry

Manager

Awesome “They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has come to help his people.’” Luke 7:16 There are many strange things around us in this world today. While strange is easy to recognize, awe might be a bit more difficult. Not long ago, I sat in awe alongside my Lutheran World Relief colleagues as I learned the hopeful news that where malaria once claimed the life of a child every 30 seconds, then every 45 seconds, it has now slowed to every 60 seconds. That 15-second increment may seem minuscule, but it means thousands of lives are saved each day. Receiving this news places us on sacred ground — where things seem strangely possible in a world that fills us with so much doubt. Sharing this news with you fills me with awe of God’s grace, working through U.S. Lutherans to achieve a seemingly impossible goal. And we are! And our response to this wonder can only be to glorify God who has called us to this work and given us a spirit of healing to share with the world. God of wonder and awe, fill our lives with your presence so we may go and share with the world. Thank you for those times when you place us on sacred ground and give us the gifts to tell the world of what we have seen. In the name of your Son, Christ Jesus. Amen.

— Chandler Carriker, LWR's Congregational Resources Specialist

Presence “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 Until I met John’s family, I thought of Psalm 23 as “nice,” but my faith had never had to really grapple with its true weight. I was working as a hospital chaplain and John was a 15-year-old patient, a twin. When I responded to the request for a chaplain on John’s unit, I was pushed aside by nurses and surgeons, beeping carts filled with every instrument imaginable trying to stop John’s congenital blood disease from stripping away his life. Amid the noise and chaos of the hospital room, I noticed a small group of people huddled together at the end of the hall, their faces white with panic. John’s family. Having no idea what to say or do, I trudged down the hall and introduced myself, quietly waiting for word from one of the doctors. We waited, and then waited some more. The only thing I could think of was Psalm 23. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me…” I never met John. In the hours following his death, I sat with his parents and his twin in the dimness of an abandoned waiting room. It was the darkest valley of their life. There was nothing I could say; there was no Bible verse to ease the pain of this untimely death. There was only the promise of God’s presence there with them, walking alongside them. God of grace, you are here, and for that we give you thanks. You have walked with us through the hardest of times, and your lasting promise gives us life. Help us give the gift of presence to others when they need it, knowing that in your name we'll never abandon them. You restore our soul. Through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

— Dan Ruth, LWR's Interactive Marketing Manager

Love “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.” John 13:14 Several years ago, I went to visit my grandmother in rural Virginia. The timing of the trip happened to coincide with the annual Love Feast held at her Church of the Brethren congregation. A Love Feast is a celebration and remembrance of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and the Lord’s Supper. She was so excited for me to attend this special event with her. What I remember from that event was simple. Grandmother washed my feet. I washed hers. I am thankful for this memory, for this tradition that put flesh and bone to story in John. Not because we’re somehow better, but in response to the incredible, humble, sacrificial love Christ gave first to us. My work at Lutheran World Relief gives me an opportunity every day to remember this inheritance of humble service and to live it out. I am thankful that LWR’s values echo my own in so many ways, and my work here gives me an opportunity every day to remember this inheritance of humble service and to live it out. Lord who comes to us with a basin and towel, thank you for your example of service to the world. You call us to serve all those around the world, from the Philippines to Colombia to Uganda and all nations in-between. Give your servants the strength to go to those places they are needed the most. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

— Melanie Gibbons, LWR's Quilt & Kit Ministry Manager