Respect

Respect – Women’s Devotion

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interest, but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:1-4 EHV



In this passage, Paul was talking to the church in Philippi; he wanted the church to be unified in their devotion to the Lord and not fighting all the time. Yet these concepts are applicable to marriage relationships as well, particularly regarding respect—respect for one’s spouse and respect for the marriage bond.

Christian marriages unite two people in Christ and make them “one in spirit” even if they don’t always feel in sync. Their unified purpose is to bring glory to God in a loving and successful marriage. Christian spouses will be like-minded in serving the Lord with all their actions, but the way they treat one another should be of utmost importance. Respect for one’s spouse shows respect for God and his blessing of marriage.

Even if a husband is not a believer or is a believer with a weak faith, the two can still be of the same mind in their marriage, with the goal of creating a loving and successful relationship. If they are like-minded in putting their partnership ahead of their individual desires, they will respect one another and act in the best interest of the marriage. The purpose of the believing spouse remains the same: to bring God glory and to strive for a compassionate marriage.

In both cases, respect for one another is key to achieving the shared purpose. A woman who shows admiration for her husband, even when he makes mistakes, is bringing joy to the Lord of blessings and unity to the marriage. “Selfish ambition and vain conceit” would tell us to make demands of our husbands and to belittle them so we ourselves look better. To combat this sinful tendency, it is important to stop and think before we speak and act. Is what I am about to do or say in his best interest or in the best interest of our marriage? Is making fun of my husband in public, going behind his back to make important decisions, or criticizing his actions going to bring glory to God? Am I being humble, recognizing my own sins and weaknesses, before pointing out his? Am I building him up or tearing him down?

Marriage is difficult. It is only through the encouragement of being united with Christ that we can show love, compassion, and respect, considering our spouses above ourselves. With the gift of a marriage partnership, God gives us the responsibility of a shared purpose and the privilege of a shared joy.



Prayer:
Thank you, God, for the gift of marriage and the unity we have in Christ. Enable me to bring you glory as I respect my husband and show him love and compassion. Amen.



Written by DeLyn Wagenknecht





For Such a Time as This

For Such a Time as This – Women’s Devotion

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14



Esther, a Jew in the foreign land of Babylon, was raised to royal position not by birth or talent, but by her beauty and the will of God. Through her lovely form and beauty, her humble actions, and her intuition, God allowed her to successfully gain the attention and respect of one of the most ruthless kings the world had ever seen in order to save her people—God’s people—from destruction. Queen Esther’s actions preserved the line of the promised Savior and advanced God’s plan for the salvation of you and me.

Chances are, you’ve not come to a “royal position.” Your life may not have beauty treatments, political intrigue, or high stakes drama. However, like Queen Esther, you have come to your unique position in life “for such a time as this.”

The all-knowing God placed you where you are, at this time in history, in your geographic location, in your family, at your workplace, as a part of your congregation “for such a time as this.” Like he did with Queen Esther, he is working through you to accomplish important work in his kingdom. Through your conversations and actions, you pass along the saving message of Jesus.

Have you come to be a wife? God brought you to your husband because he knew you would meet his emotional, physical, and spiritual needs by pointing him to Jesus.

Are you a mom? God knew your particular child would thrive under your biblical care and guidance in a way that no one else could provide.

Maybe you have come to a “sponsor” position. Can you pray for a child when no one else is doing so?

Maybe you’re a “kind-stranger-on-the-street” with a ready smile for someone barely making it through the day. Can you be the hands and feet of Jesus?

Are you a colleague? Do you see the toll office politics take on the person next to you? Have you come to this workplace for “such a time as this” to give godly answers to everyday questions?

You might be a daughter, sister, aunt, or co-worker. You may be all of the above.

The truth is, God has us come to many “positions” or roles during our lifetime. Often, the plans and purposes he has for us may never be fully realized this side of heaven. “Who knows why things are as they are?” we say. The story of Esther shows us that God knows. He’s given you what you need and brought you to the place you are to advance his plan of salvation. Incredibly, our seemingly ordinary positions will likely stretch beyond our lifetime and into generations yet unborn! You have come to your position for such a time as this.



Prayer:
God of all wisdom, you alone have placed us in our unique positions. Through them, help us to seek opportunities to glorify you. Forgive us for the times we fail to share your gospel of grace and mercy with those you have given us to care for, and open our hearts to seek the purposes for which you have placed us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.



Written by Holly Schwefel





Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 24

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

You Must Make Time to Ponder


But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19


Mary must have had a lot of time on her hands. No doubt she sat near the manger, in an idyllic pose, pondering, right?

My guess is no. Joseph had to find a place to live and work to make money to keep a roof over their heads and food in their cupboard. Mary needed a means to clean up her baby boy, not just after birth, but every time he needed to be cleaned. Those swaddling clothes wouldn’t stay clean for long. Water must be fetched, food must be made, and how does one keep a manger clean?

Mary pondered because she took the time to ponder.

To ponder means to think carefully about something. Its Latin root is “to weigh” or “to reflect on.” The old French means “to consider.” Mary considered, weighed, reflected on all God was doing around her.

Sometimes we ruminate on all the wrong things. We notice the ways the people around us aren’t carrying their weight. We consider the sin in this world and the apathy of people who could do something about it. Circumstances, the never-ending laundry or dishes, the illness, the shrinking paycheck, weigh us down.

The apostle Paul suggests we avoid that. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke about worry, something that consumes a lot of us a lot of the time. After commanding us not to worry and giving us good reason not to worry, he concluded by saying, “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33).

First seek God.

How different would our days be if we were to seek God first?

I have an hour-long commute to work. During the last ten minutes of the commute I put a Christian worship song on, because I’ve noticed that if I do, that song goes through my head all day long.

Reading the Bible right away in the morning sets the tone for the day. Today my reading from 1 Timothy was about avoiding distractions and godless chatter (social media!) and instead focusing on and teaching what is true. Hours later, it is still shaping the direction of my day.

We fall into bad habits, but seeking requires action. You can seek wealth or power or fame or entertainment, but they often leave us as empty as we started.

God says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

When you seek God, you will find him. The effort is rewarded every time.

And what do we get out of it? God’s love is everlasting. It doesn’t wax and wane depending on our attitude or energy. And we’re told God “…will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast” (Isaiah 26:3). Perfect (absolute, complete) peace is ours even in the midst of chaos. And if any of us lacks wisdom (insight as to what to do), James tells us God will freely give it (James 1:5). He does that as we open his Word.

When we don’t make time for God, we are giving ourselves over to the craziness and delusions of the world, the frantic pace, the never-ending striving, the “never enough” mentality.

When we step back and look at it objectively, on the scales of life, it’s so clear to see God lifts us up, encourages us, and gives us strength to endure. The devil, the world, and our sinful flesh drag us down, leave us spinning in negative thoughts and habits, and leave us empty.

Pray. Open the Bible. Worship. They’re the most important things you do each day.


Prayer:

Gracious Father God, too often we think we can do it on our own. We march out ahead of you, insistent on our own strength. Help us develop the daily habit of meeting you so you can fill us up, motivate us, and strengthen us to do the work you have for us to do. We come in the name of Jesus, our Savior King. Amen.


Written by Amber Albee Swenson
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 23

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

God With Us


The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14


Immanuel, which means “God with us,” might be my favorite word. The saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know” holds true. If you haven’t grown up in a ghetto looking for scraps of food to get by, you don’t know. If you haven’t been married, you don’t quite comprehend the complexity of bringing two lives together. If you haven’t been single for an extended season, you likely don’t remember the tinge of loneliness that sometimes creeps in, and for some, the longing for a relationship to take that loneliness away.

Believers go from the comparative poverty of earth to the glory of heaven. We look ahead knowing the pains and frustrations of this life are momentary. We are on a pilgrimage, journeying to a better, never-ending life in glory.

Jesus left glory—the perfect splendor of heaven, where angels adored him and the Father and Spirit consulted and communed with him—for life on earth. To descend would be daunting. Mary and Joseph had never raised a child. Jesus entrusted his life to amateurs.

In heaven, the devil knew Jesus’ majesty and power, and he knew he was no match. But as a human, Jesus submitted to a weakened state. He became hungry. He experienced fear. And in his weakness, the devil tried again and again to plant seeds of doubt, to twist the truth and seduce Jesus from righteousness.

As a human, Jesus felt emotions. He knew Lazarus had entered his eternal rest, and knew he was better off, and even so, standing outside the grave, with Mary and Martha and those closest to Lazarus, he felt the pain of separation.

Despite being sinless, Jesus went to the cross where he felt the divide that existed between sinful humans and a holy God. God the Father allowed Jesus to feel the weight of sin—the full weight of the punishment of sin that we will never have to feel.

Because Jesus set aside his power and walked in our shoes, he knows loneliness and frustration. He understands rejection and what it is to be cold or misunderstood.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews reminds us of this significance. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15,16).

Jesus knows what we are going through. We go to him in prayer knowing he understands. And because he understands, we go to him confidently. He knows what we need and is able to supply it in abundance from the storehouses of heaven.


Prayer:

Thank you, Jesus, for giving up so much for me. Thank you for being willing to experience the pain and sadness that often accompanies life on earth. Thank you for dying and allowing us to see your struggle, so that we know you understand. In your precious name we pray. Amen.


Written by Amber Albee Swenson
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 22

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Holding on to God to Deliver in His Time and Way


When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
Matthew 2:13


Rarely are we in this kind of life-threatening danger. But if we’re honest, a lot of us find ourselves in seemingly impossible situations all the time.

This child just doesn’t understand potty-training.

That child just doesn’t “get” how to drive.

This marriage seems impossible.

The bills, the job, the health crisis, taking care of mom or dad…

God glories in impossible situations, because our impossibles are completely possible to him. He urges us to “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psalm 50:15).

Moses knew he wouldn’t be able to lead the children of Israel. But God could lead the children of Israel through Moses (the book of Exodus). Gideon couldn’t defeat the vast Midianite and Amalekite armies. But God could and did defeat the armies while Gideon and his 300 soldiers watched (Judges 6-7). Joshua didn’t chisel the walls of Jericho until they fell. He led the people around the walls, and God toppled the walls, and they became piles of rubble (Joshua 5-6).

We don’t have to lose sleep or wonder how things will fall into place. We can place our heartaches and struggles in God’s capable arms and step out in faith while he brings everything together.

Sometimes that takes a long time. The path of the Christian is one of faithful obedience in the waiting seasons, even when those seasons tarry.

Abraham continued to worship and obey while waiting 25 years for a son (Genesis 12-21). Daniel faithfully carried out his duties with impeccable morality while serving heathen rulers his entire adult life (the book of Daniel). Hannah knew her only hope was God. And she went to him again, even after suffering for years with infertility and the taunting of her husband’s other wife (1 Samuel 1).

The Canaanite woman didn’t cry out just once for Jesus to heal her daughter. She kept crying out, until the disciples wanted to send her away. Only then did Jesus tell her he was sent to the people of Israel. Still, she knelt before Jesus and begged for help. And when Jesus said it wasn’t right to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs, she asked for just a crumb—and her daughter was healed (Matthew 15:21-28).

Do not give up on your impossible situations, and do not give up on your prayers. Many great men and women in the Bible found themselves stuck, and for many, deliverance didn’t come at once.

Paul Kretzmann, in his Popular Commentary of the Bible, said, “Even if all experience of man is against a Christian in his prayer, he trusts in the merciful Father for help and, in child-like faith, brings his petition before the throne of God again and again.”1


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we know you are good and eager to act on behalf of your people. When my patience wanes, remind me of your goodness and increase my trust. You promise to work for my good, so I know your timing is perfect and your decisions are good. Deliver me as you see fit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.



1 Kretzmann, Paul E; Popular Commentary of the Bible The New Testament, Volume 1 (Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO, 1921) p. 262.


Written by Amber Albee Swenson
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 21

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

When the Government Isn’t on Your Side


When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.
Matthew 2:3,4


By all historical accounts, Herod was a vicious man. He killed anyone he perceived to be a threat to his reign. And Jesus, whom the wise men referred to as the “king of the Jews,” was a threat.

Herod was just the first of Satan’s pawns. Jesus would face a lifetime of social and political enemies.

Today Christian values are seen as a threat too. Birth gender is no longer accepted as fact. Sex is not seen as a gift reserved for a married husband and wife, but rather as a pastime, casual entertainment, and acceptable experimentation for any age. The name of Jesus has little to do with prayer, praise, and thanks. Instead, it’s a favored and acceptable curse word on prime-time TV and in many workplaces.

Lest we think we are living in an unusually anti-Christian society, the apostle Paul’s words remind us it has and will always be this way: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

The Bible serves as a witness: it was just as evil in the days of Noah and Abraham and Joseph. Spend time in the books of Judges or 2 Kings, Esther or Daniel if you think maybe things were better then. Nebuchadnezzar and Xerxes were unusually cruel, and yet God caused these ruthless men to act favorably toward Daniel, Esther, Mordecai, and the remnant they represented.

Some rulers are more favorably disposed to Christianity than others. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice” (Proverbs 29:2, EHV).

And when the Herods and the Hitlers and even the slightly cunning and somewhat malicious rise to positions of authority, then we do what Christians have always done. We worship, we pray, and we remember our home is in heaven.

Noah preached while he built the ark. Joseph worked hard in a heathen land for heathen rulers. Paul and Silas praised in chains. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked with the angel in the fire. Daniel prayed in the lion’s den. Stephen died at the hands of men of power and watched heaven open to welcome him in.

It is no surprise when we feel alienated from the world. This is not our home.


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to remember the gospel light shines brightest in darkness. Let our lives serve as a witness, always pointing to you. When evil reigns, help us to look to you for strength and to remember brighter days are ahead. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.


Written by Amber Albee Swenson
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 20

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Receiving Far More Than We Give


On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11


Our modern eyes can see rich symbolism in the gifts presented by the Magi. Gold: a royal gift, fit for a king. Frankincense (incense): a religious gift, fit for a god. Myrrh: a loving gift used in embalming, fit for one who would suffer and die. Each of these gifts highlights a particular aspect of Jesus’ character; each conveys a piece of the story about this newborn Messiah.

The Magi, however, almost certainly didn’t intend any of this symbolism. They didn’t know that the one they were seeking, the one who had been born king of the Jews, embodied the union of divinity and humanity. They didn’t fully understand the heavenly (rather than earthly) nature of this King’s rule. They didn’t have any concept of the fate that awaited Jesus approximately 30 years later at the cross. They simply wanted to present Jesus with precious gifts from their homeland, items that meant a great deal to them, treasures to be shared.

I don’t know about you, but it’s not always easy for me to offer my time, talents, and treasures to Jesus. I’m busy—who isn’t?—and relaxing at the end of a long day sounds much more appealing than opening my Bible or devotion book. Yes, I use my musical gifts in service to my church, but sometimes it feels like no one really appreciates all the work I’m putting in. And sure, I support the church financially—except when I look at my stack of offering envelopes and am surprised by how many weeks have passed since I put one in the basket.

It would be easy to turn this devotion into law, to remind you that God has given you the greatest gift possible and that, in return, you have an obligation to give everything back to him. Law isn’t always a bad thing, and sometimes that’s the message that we need to hear. But our gifts are much more joyful, much more treasures to be shared than obligations to be fulfilled, when our giving has a gospel-centered focus. God has indeed given us the greatest gift possible. Therefore, how can we do anything other than present him with our greatest treasures?

And sometimes, we find unexpected blessings that come from presenting God with our greatest treasures. We have the privilege of intentionally considering what those greatest treasures actually are. What do you value the most, and how can you use that which you value in service to God? Presenting our treasures also often takes the form of serving others with love and good works. When we turn outward, when we see how our greatest treasures can be used to benefit our neighbor, we often can’t help but rejoice in the midst of this service.

The Magi took much more with them than they left behind. Yes, they left behind treasures—but they took with them the news and knowledge of God’s greatest treasure, of the One who would give himself for the salvation of the world. When we use our gifts in service to God and to our neighbor, may we also receive far more than we give!


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for all the gifts you have so richly showered on me. Provide me with the motivation to use these gifts in service to you and to those around me, and let all that I give be a blessing to your Church. Amen.


Written by Kristi Meyer
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 19

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Seeing the Good in Our Journeys


After [the Magi] had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
Matthew 2:9,10


We don’t know much about the Magi. Matthew only tells us that they were “wise men” from “the east.” Although they tend to show up as a group of three in Nativity scenes, we don’t know exactly how many of them there were. We can make a guess as to their place of origin—perhaps Babylon—but we don’t know exactly how long their journey was either. Estimates range from 400 to over 1000 miles and from a month to several years. But we do know how they were guided on their journey: by a divinely provided star.

There are times I wish God would provide me a star for guidance. Life contains so many choices to make, so many paths to take, and often I’m not quite sure if I’m on the right path or not. We all have those low times in our lives when we wonder whether God really still loves us, whether we are still worthy to be called his child, whether any good can come out of the trials and tribulations we’re experiencing. Where’s our star in those moments? Where’s our assurance that God is indeed with us every step of the way?

Thankfully, God does provide assurance that he is with us on our journey through this life, even if we can’t always see his presence. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). This verse doesn’t mean that we’ll always make the right choice or that we’ll always act in accordance with God’s will. We are sinful human beings, and that sinfulness shows itself daily in our words and actions. But in Romans 8:28, God does promise that he will take all our choices—good and bad, influenced by our old Adam or our new self—and use them for good, for his purposes.

The Magi were blessed to see the good at the end of their journey. They saw Jesus with their own eyes and bowed down and worshiped him. They had the certainty that their journey was not in vain, that they accomplished the task set before them, that they reached their goal. And then they returned to their own country, presumably to tell everyone what they had seen and heard.

It would be lovely if we could always see the good in our journey, too. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Sometimes we can see how God is working for our good in the moment. Sometimes, that seeing takes longer—months or even years. And sometimes, we aren’t able to see that good on this side of heaven. But we can be comforted in knowing that God is always working for the good of those who love him, whether that’s directly for our good or for the good of another fellow believer. Even in the midst of this uncertainty, may we share the joy of the Magi at God’s guidance and protection throughout our journey—from this life to the next!


Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, give us hearts like the Magi as we seek to find joy in our journey here on this earth. Comfort us with the knowledge that you are working all things for our good, and remind us of the perfection that awaits at the end of our earthly road. Amen.


Written by Kristi Meyer
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 18

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Set Free to Live


“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Luke 2:29-32


What kind of mental picture do you have of Simeon? Perhaps one of an old, wizened man, with a life extended beyond what could naturally be expected, close to death but still hanging on because of the promise that he would not die before seeing the Messiah? Maybe… but maybe not.

Luke doesn’t tell us anything about how old Simeon was or how long he had been waiting. We know from Luke’s choice of words that Simeon had been waiting expectantly, with eager anticipation, but not necessarily for a long time. And we also don’t know that Simeon’s words in today’s reading indicate that he was ready to die. In fact, they might mean exactly the opposite.

The specific words Simeon used carry the picture of a sentry being relieved from his post, or a slave being dismissed from his duty, or a servant being assigned to a different task now that his current task has been completed. In other words, Simeon may not have been saying, “Lord, I’m ready to die.” He may have been saying, “Lord, I’m ready to live.”

Like Simeon, we too have seen God’s salvation. We see it in the manger on that first Christmas night. We see it in Jesus’ teaching and preaching and miracles throughout his three years of earthly ministry. We see it in the Palm Sunday procession and the Good Friday crucifixion and the Easter Sunday resurrection. We see it in Jesus’ ascension into heaven on the Mount of Olives, and we’ll see it again one day when he comes again in glory.

And here’s the best part: we’ve been given a calling to carry out during our time on this earth, a command to make disciples of all nations, a purpose as we too say, “Lord, I’m ready to live.” We have the best news of all to share with a broken and dying world, and we have the privilege of living out this good news through our words and actions every single day. We have the sure and certain hope of heaven, and we have the joy of strengthening our sisters and brothers in the faith with this hope. We have good works that were prepared in advance for us to do, and we have the spiritual gifts to complete those good works in service to God and to our neighbor. We have so much living to do!

At my church, we use the Compline liturgy during midweek Lent services. I love closing the worship service by singing these words of Simeon in the Nunc Dimittis and then leaving the light and warmth of the church building for the dark and chill of the world. Yes, Simeon may have been an old man close to death. But he may also have had quite a bit of life left, a life that he lived for God. Eventually, we’ll all be called home by God. In the meantime, though, we’re called to live for him now—a calling that we’re privileged to carry out every day.


Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for showing us your salvation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Lead us to reflect this salvation in our lives as we live for you. Bless this living, and let us be a light to those around us still living in darkness. Amen.


Written by Kristi Meyer
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 17

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Waiting Made More Bearable


Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
Luke 2:25


I’m not a very patient person. I get crabby when waiting for a friend to arrive at dinner or a co-worker to show up for a meeting. And if I have to wait longer, such as for a response to an e-mail—a day, a couple of days, a week? I find myself checking my inbox incessantly, constantly thinking about when I’m going to get a response, and even wondering if I somehow offended the person I’m waiting for and now they’re not replying because they’re mad at me. Patience is absolutely not my strong suit.

I wonder how patient Simeon was. Luke tells us that Simeon was righteous and devout, but he doesn’t share Simeon’s thoughts or mindset as he waited for the consolation of Israel, for the comfort and peace that the Messiah would bring. Luke also doesn’t tell us how long Simeon had been waiting (more on that in tomorrow’s devotion). But Luke does share one very important detail in today’s short verse: that the Holy Spirit was on Simeon.

Could the same be said of us? Is the Holy Spirit on us as we wait? There are times when I would say absolutely yes, especially those times when I’m waiting for something spiritual. We’re all waiting for Jesus to take us home to heaven, and it’s relatively easy to ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we strive to live sanctified lives on our path that ultimately leads heavenward.

But what about the more mundane waiting? What about waiting for fulfillment and purpose in your job, for peace and harmony in your family life, for health and healing in the midst of a medical diagnosis? Do your thoughts turn heavenward in these moments of waiting? Or do you find yourself trying to handle them on your own and only seeking out God after all your other options have been exhausted? If I’m honest with myself, I have to admit that God is too often my last thought rather than my first when I’m waiting—even though I know the waiting will be much more bearable with him by my side.

There’s one more thing we can learn from Simeon in our moments of waiting. Later in this chapter, Luke records that Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit to go into the temple courts, into the house of God. Simeon finished up his waiting by being in the presence of God and of those who were also waiting for the Messiah. He was strengthened by hearing God’s Word proclaimed and fellowshipping with other believers. When we faithfully attend worship and Bible study, when we cultivate Christian friendships, when we make it a priority to be in the house of our God, we too are blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our days, weeks, months, and even years of waiting. Our waiting might not be shorter or easier, but it will be more bearable with our God by our side!


Prayer:

Holy Spirit, be upon us in our waiting, both in large and small matters. Give us patience and perseverance in this life as we eagerly anticipate the hope of heaven and the glory that awaits us. And when our waiting seems to last forever, comfort us with the promise that you will never leave us nor forsake us. Amen.


Written by Kristi Meyer
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 16

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

We Can’t Help It


When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Luke 2:17,18


You just heard the most amazing news but made a promise not to share it. The time isn’t right and it isn’t your news to share, so you hold it close to the vest even though you feel like you could burst. This phenomenon goes against our natural human inclination to share good news with those around us—we just can’t help it!

The shepherds had news to share that was like none other. The long-awaited Messiah, Christ the Lord, had been born in Bethlehem. A multitude of angels announcing the birth had just illuminated the night sky above their sheep in the Judean countryside. The shepherds could hardly contain the news. They journeyed to the manger, found everything just as the angel had said, and spread the word on their way back to their fields that night. They couldn’t help it!

Although the shepherds were not commanded to keep the good news of Jesus to themselves, Peter and John were. After healing a crippled man, they were brought in front of the Sanhedrin and ordered not to speak about Jesus’ death and resurrection anymore. Their response is recorded in Acts 4:20: “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” In spite of the directive to keep silent, they refused to do so. This message had eternal implications for all who would hear it, so no demand of the Sanhedrin or persecution would stop them from sharing it. They couldn’t help it.

We have this same gospel message to share. We too know this Jesus—born, crucified, and resurrected for us. And astonishingly, he gives this incredible news of grace to flawed, sinful people and uses us to proclaim it. But what about us? Do we find ourselves overflowing with excitement and unable to keep this news to ourselves, or does fear prevent us from sharing? Do we share Jesus unapologetically, or does concern for what others may think get in the way?

This Advent season, we can pray for a heart like the shepherds that is bursting with joy about the news of Jesus. As the joy of Jesus bubbles up in our hearts, we can search for opportunities to let his light shine in our lives and relationships with others. Whatever holds us back from sharing this eternity-changing news, we can pray that those obstacles would be replaced with boldness.

Consider the outcome of the shepherds’ witness testimony of the Savior’s birth that first Christmas night. Luke tells us that all who heard it were amazed. First, as we consider our Savior’s birth, we too revisit a place of marvel and awe at the depths of God’s grace for sinners. Then, as we share that awe, may the Holy Spirit work through our testimony to bring others to faith. The story of God’s grace is too wonderful not to share—we just can’t help it!


Prayer:

Dear Lord, as we look at the world around us, we can’t help but notice how much it needs you. Use us to share the good news of salvation this Christmas season and always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


Written by Katie Martin
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



Would you like to share Jesus with others in your life but don’t feel equipped to do so? If you would like to learn more about how to share Jesus, consider attending the Women’s Ministry Conference from July 28-30, 2024, at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, Wis. At this conference entitled “Empowered to Proclaim,” we will study the book of Acts and learn how, just as the Holy Spirit empowered the early Christian church to share the good news, he does the same for us. Visit welswmconference.net for more information.



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 15

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

For Us


When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Luke 2:15


Recently the Hubble telescope discovered a new star, Earendel. At 28 billion light years away, it is now considered the farthest star from the earth. Pondering that fact allows us to see the vastness of God’s creation and his almighty power to both create such marvels and take care of them. Yet, sometimes as we gaze at the starry sky or stand at the ocean shore, we may feel tiny and unimportant. As we await answers to prayers, experience the heartbreak of loss, and struggle through situations that aren’t resolving according to our plan, we can feel abandoned and alone. We may wonder if God has gotten caught up in governing the other matters of this giant universe and has forgotten about us.

Even on the days when it may feel like God is far from us, he is not. God’s Word and his promises remind us of the truth. “But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). Although by nature our sins separated us from God, the blood of Christ brought us back together. Another promise reminds us of our importance in God’s eyes. “Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without the knowledge and consent of your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31). The same God who sets the stars in place and orders the seas to rise and fall has time to care for the tiniest sparrow and number the hairs on our heads.

As we peer into the manger this Advent season, we see another reminder of that truth. God orchestrated the history of the world so that his Son could enter at just the right moment to fulfill every promise ever made. He wasn’t about to leave his creatures alone to wallow in their sin. Rather, when the time was right, he came to earth and became flesh—for us. He subjected himself to the limits of time and space—for us. He was born into a sinful world; experienced hunger, exhaustion, and grief; and died the death of a criminal—for us. Certainly this same God who put a new star in the sky to mark his Son’s birth hasn’t forgotten about the reason he sent that Son in the first place—for us.

The words “let’s go to Bethlehem” are for you and me as well. While we may not be able to physically hold the Christ-child like Simeon or kneel beside his manger like the shepherds, he is present in our lives. He comes to us in Word and Sacrament, strengthening and sustaining us and filling us with his presence. This Advent season, as we journey to the manger to worship Immanuel, let’s pause on the significance of that name: not God from afar or God for them, but “God with us.”


Prayer:

Dear Jesus, in times when we doubt your presence in our lives, point us to your gospel promises. We rejoice that you sent Immanuel, God with us, to rescue and save us. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and comfort us with your presence every day of our lives. Amen.


Written by Katie Martin
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 14

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

A Far Greater Peace


Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
Luke 2:14


It happened in an instant. I walked out the front door to pick up a package and before I could do anything about it, a gust of wind slammed it shut. The keys were inside, the door was locked, and the extra set of keys was out of town in my husband’s pocket. I was on the outside looking in. No matter how many times I rattled the doorknob or walked around the house searching for an unlocked window to climb in, I wasn’t going to get in.

All it took was Satan’s masquerade as a friendly snake and a taste of forbidden fruit. After that moment, Adam and Eve were locked out. They were sent out of the very garden in which Adam had named the animals. They were banished from the place where they had lived in perfection and walked with God. This separation from God was not just for the two of them, but for every person born into this world. A world that was once perfect became tainted with sin and filled with strife and hardship. Sin, in a single moment, had shattered the peace between God and man and created a chasm that no one could cross.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the end of the story. As we read the angels’ words in Luke 2, we hear of the solution to this shattered peace between God and man. In a small town that was bursting at the seams because of a greedy politician, God fulfilled his almighty plans to insert peace into a broken world. In a manger in that crowded town lay the One who would live the perfect life we could not, die the death we deserved, and rise to life triumphantly, restoring peace between man and God.

This peace is different from what the world expects and is not what our sinful hearts desire. Too often, we want conflict ended, a comfortable existence, and smooth sailing here on earth. Yet, that isn’t the peace that Jesus brings. The peace of Jesus is far greater than that. The peace of Jesus is knowing that because of his sacrifice, our relationship with God has been restored. The peace of Jesus is knowing that we stand in God’s grace even when the world around us crumbles. The peace of Jesus tempers any earthly uncertainty with unshakable hope in a heavenly future. While this peace will never eliminate earthly struggle, it gives us hope and a future in spite of it.

That first Christmas night, the angels both proclaimed the birth of the One who brought peace and praised God because of it. We too echo the words of the angels. We glorify God with our words and our lives and share that true peace with the world around us. By grace, we are no longer on the outside looking in. Instead we have peace with God. We stand firm in this peace, which sustains us in this life until we join the angel choirs praising him for eternity in heaven.


Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, we rejoice with the angels because of the peace you have given us through your Son’s birth. May that peace wash over us and sustain us in moments of uncertainty and anxiety. Be with us and help us proclaim that true peace to the hurting world around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


Written by Katie Martin
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 13

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

The Extraordinary Ordinary


There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified! But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people.”
Luke 2:8-10, EHV


Some days, life just seems tedious. More data to enter at the office. Another load of laundry to fold and put away. More dirty dishes have piled up in the sink. Completing these ordinary tasks day in and day out can steal our joy and leave us yearning for an exotic vacation and a respite from the monotony. I wonder how the shepherds were feeling as they logged another cold, uneventful night watching sheep. Were they bogged down by the routine—weary of doing the same mindless, ordinary job every single night?

Regardless of the shepherds’ attitude that first Christmas Eve, their ordinary night was about to become extraordinary. A child was born in a stable in Bethlehem. A seemingly unimportant, private moment of joy between a husband and wife was about to change the history of the world. The fulfillment of thousands of years of promises lay in a manger. God himself came to earth to save his people. It’s no coincidence that those appointed to watch sheep outside Bethlehem that night were the first to hear about One who would redeem the lost sheep of Israel and bring salvation to the world. An ordinary night became extraordinary indeed.

During the season of Advent, we often face the burden of those tiresome, daily tasks in the midst of schedules that are amped up with parties and extra preparations. While we may enjoy the extra social and family gatherings, our attitude isn’t always one of joy as we prepare to celebrate our Savior’s birth. We may feel the burden of extra responsibilities and the pressure of additional deadlines. In spite of our attitude, that extraordinary news wasn’t just for the shepherds in the distant town of Bethlehem. This “good news of great joy” is for us too. God himself became flesh and walked among us to save us and make us his own dear children. Yet, how can we be mindful of the extraordinary while trudging through the ordinary?

In a recent article1, Michealeen Doucleff wrote about how to find joy when we are stuck in a rut. One of her suggestions was to take an “awe walk” every day and pay attention to the extraordinary things in the midst of the ordinary. As Christians, this “awe walk” is far more significant than a walk in God’s beautiful creation. It is a walk to the manger where we see God’s promises fulfilled and to the cross where we lay our sins at the feet of the One who died and rose again for us. May our daily “awe walk” infuse true joy into every single one of the most minute and tedious moments of our ordinary human existence. The joy of Jesus transforms each of our ordinary moments on earth to extraordinary ones as we ponder the depths of his grace, peace, and love for each one of us, not only this Advent season but every single day.


Prayer:

Dear Jesus, when I feel bogged down by the tedium of daily life, remind me of the depths of your goodness. Be with me as I walk to the manger and cross every day in awe of your amazing grace for me. Help me to slow down and appreciate that extraordinary news this Advent season. In your name. Amen.



1 Doucleff, M. (2021, June 29). Stuck In A Rut? Sometimes Joy Takes A Little Practice. NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/06/29/1010319240/stuck-in-a-rut-sometimes-joy-takes-a-little-practice

Written by Katie Martin
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 12

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Hope in the Midst of Hardship


In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world… And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth… He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Luke 2:1-7


This fall, we drove our youngest daughter 1,600 miles away from home to begin her high school education at one of our church synod’s schools. We did the same thing with our first three daughters, sending them excruciatingly far away at the age of 14. Explaining this choice to others is almost impossible. I can see them mentally sifting through the possibilities: “Hmm, that kid must need boot camp,” or “Those parents must not really love their kid.” Finally, they offer up the least offensive reaction they can muster: “She must be so excited to live in a dorm!”

No, definitely not, and not yet.

We send our children because we want them to stay close to Jesus. We want them to continue to plumb the depths of his Word. To develop lifelong Christian friends. To be taught by adults who confess Christ, not ridicule him. We want their ears and hearts to be filled with Jesus before they enter an unbelieving world that will try to drown God out.

But it’s a sacrifice.

Sometimes families do hard things for good reasons. Sometimes hard things are thrust on them.

In Mary’s final term of pregnancy, she had to do a hard thing. A census was ordered by the Roman government. Everyone was to be counted in their ancestral towns. Mary and Joseph had to head to Bethlehem, over 90 miles away. They must have shared a long look—an ancient prophecy spoke of that small city: “But you, Bethlehem… out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2). Clearly, God was maneuvering events so that his words could be fulfilled.

But why did it have to be so hard?

My family’s 1,600-mile trip took 27 hours. We had smooth roads, a vehicle, and comfortable beds on every leg of the trip. Mary’s trip could have taken up to a week on foot, through the rocky territory of wild animals and outlaws, through dust storms and rainstorms… and all this in her third trimester. No bath or mattress at the end of a long day. And when they finally reached Bethlehem, it was so crowded that they were forced to seek lodging in a stable.

Many people object to the idea of a loving God who allows suffering. Even Christians sometimes measure his love by the good in our lives, not the bad. When we struggle, our doubts magnify. We might think God’s not real. God doesn’t really love us.

But remember God’s Son. From his first breath in a stable to his last breath on a Roman cross, Jesus identified as a humble servant, as much a Savior for the lost and lowly as for the privileged and powerful, accessible to all.

Why do our Christian lives include hardship? One reason is to help us form that same identity: we are God’s servants. We can meet others in their struggles because we’ve been there too. We can serve without counting the cost.


Prayer:

Lord, thank you for entering our human story as a Savior for all. Help us to love others the way you love us. Amen.


Written by Sarah Habben
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 11

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

God With Us… Even Today


The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him “Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:23


Once Joseph resolved to divorce his “unfaithful,” pregnant fiancée, I imagine he anticipated a regretful night of ceiling gazing. His future with Mary was a closed door thanks to some other man. But that night, an angel visited him in a dream and turned his world upside-down… again. “What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit… and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins,” the angel announced.

There was no “other man”—this was a miracle. And it was a miracle that echoed a prophecy in the book of Isaiah, about a virgin who gives birth to a son: Immanuel—God with us.

Joseph had known the stories of the Bible since he was a child. He knew how the Old Testament God showed his presence: in a pillar of cloud and fire, in acts of judgment and acts of grace, in a quiet whisper. But now God himself was unfurling in Mary’s womb! Joseph could have scoffed. Instead, he ran straight back to Mary to set things right.

So often in Advent we anticipate the sweet baby, circled by animals, sung by angels. But does a shiver go up our spine at the import of his birth, his name, his purposeful proximity? When Joseph wrapped the tiny boy in scraps of cloth, he held a 700-year-old promise come true.

It was a promise fulfilled so that God could be with us. Not in an earthquake, or fire, or maelstrom of judgment. Not to point us to the only exit we deserve, the one marked hell. No, Jesus came to be “God with us” in grace. To nestle in the arms of his flawed earthly parents. To scuff along dusty paths instructing his slow-to-learn disciples. To heal the hopeless. To face a Roman execution and bear his Father’s holy anger over our sin. To be laid in a tomb. To break free of death so that he could be “God with us”… even those of us in the 21st century.

But surely God is farther away than ever? We can’t approach his holy mountain with his Old Testament people, trembling at his fire. We can’t hear the thunder or the whisper of his voice. We can’t even tiptoe into that stable with the shepherds and hope for the child’s eyes to turn our way. Is he really “God with us?”

He is! And it should send an awed shiver up our spines. He is not just God with us, but God in us—as we eat and drink of his true body and blood in his Holy Supper. As he enters our hearts and makes us his children in baptism. As he thunders and whispers to us in his Word.

This Advent, remember how God entered the human race to be with us. Remember how he lives in you. Remember how he is coming again so you can be with him in heaven, where he will be close enough to lean over and wipe away every tear from your eyes.


Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for being with me, more present and more powerful than any human friend. I have a home with you in heaven. By your grace, bring me safely there. Amen.


Written by Sarah Habben
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 10

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Silencing Our Doubts


They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
Luke 1:61-63


Zechariah the priest stands alone in the hazy interior of the Holy Place, where he’s about to burn incense to God. He and his wife Elizabeth are childless and old. Nevertheless, the prayer for a child has run through their minds for decades.

Suddenly, an angel appears. Zechariah goes rigid with fear. But the angel Gabriel assures him, “Do not be afraid; your prayer has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son. You are to give him the name John… He will bring people back to God and get them ready for the Lord.”

In other words, Zechariah’s child would be the messenger God had promised, 400 years earlier, to send. The messenger that would prepare the way for the Savior.

There, in those holy surroundings, in the startling company of God’s angel, Zechariah has a very human reaction: “How can I be sure of this? I am old and my wife is well along in years.”

Does it surprise you, the doubt that tumbles from the mouth of a lifelong priest? Does it surprise you to think that a priest’s prayers might have become more habit than hope? Does it surprise you… or can you relate?

Sometimes the loudest opposition to God’s promises comes from inside our own heads.

“Will God really provide all that I need, or should I just fudge a little on my timecard and taxes?”

“Does God really forgive this sin that keeps me awake at night?”

“Can God ever turn this horrible, heart-wrenching loss into something good?”

But when Zechariah’s doubts go head-to-head with God’s promises, his doubts are literally silenced. God takes away Zechariah’s voice. And as his elderly wife swells with a miracle child, Zechariah’s inner doubts are silenced too.

When Elizabeth gives birth to a son, her friends and family share her joy. They arrive for the baby’s circumcision and naming. They decide, by committee, to name him after his father Zechariah. But Elizabeth speaks up and says, “No! He is to be called John.”

Elizabeth, who hasn’t had the luxury of discussing with her silent husband all the angel had said about their child, is nevertheless convinced that all of it is true. Every prenatal kick, every twinge, every moment of queasiness during her months of isolation affirmed the miracle. And she is willing to contradict a room full of relatives and friends if it means obeying God.

Her name choice is met with shocked confusion. John? Why?? John isn’t a family name! The group now turns to Zechariah, seeking his mute opinion. To everyone’s astonishment, he writes, “His name is John.”

And immediately, God returns Zechariah’s voice. He begins to speak, no longer in doubt but with praise.

God’s discipline of Zechariah might seem extreme. But I would bet that Zechariah’s spiritual parenting of John was the better for his months of silent contemplation. This Advent, let’s find time to quietly ponder God’s promises, repent of our doubts, and pray for courage to witness to those around us.


Prayer:

Dear Lord, forgive me for my doubts. Open my mouth to speak your praise. Amen.


Written by Sarah Habben
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 9

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Harm and Hardship or Hope?


All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet…
Matthew 1:22


Life doesn’t always go as planned. A precious pregnancy ends in a miscarriage. Switching schools doesn’t end the bullying. Retirement plans are interrupted by a difficult diagnosis. A Christmas gathering includes an empty chair.

Life doesn’t always go as we plan. But God says, “’I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

How do God’s people reconcile our hardships with this loving assurance? When harm comes, and hopelessness, what is God’s plan? When the only advent we expect is the sun rising on our grief or disappointment, where does that leave God’s promises?

Perhaps we are mistaking God’s promise to prosper us with a promise to pamper us. And maybe for a time, Mary and Joseph did too. Certainly, their engagement didn’t go the way they had planned. Suddenly, they were lead characters in God’s salvation story. God calmed their initial fear and shock by pointing them to an ancient promise. Mary’s impossible pregnancy was the first step in fulfilling what God had said through the prophet Isaiah an unfathomable 700 years earlier: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Maybe Mary and Joseph figured that since they were now the caregivers of his only son, God would shield them from future hardship. But no. Instead of being pampered, poverty surrounded them. A murderous king pursued them. A sword of grief pierced their souls. Their child, God’s child, wasn’t spared either. He was betrayed. He suffered. He died under God’s judgment.

It looks very much like harm, doesn’t it? But look again. When Jesus came helpless into the world, he was a prophecy fulfilled. No number of centuries or circumstances could have stopped his birth. And nothing could stop his saving purpose. That tiny, helpless child would one day travel the roads of Israel looking for the lost. His foot would come down on Satan’s head and crush his power over humankind. His glorified body would step free from death. What looks like harm… is actually hope. Hope for his sinful parents. Hope for you and me.

What plans does God have for you? How many ways, seen and unseen, has he intervened in your life to bring about his will? How is he using harm and hardship to bring you (or those around you) hope in your Savior? How does his word of forgiveness change your daily trajectory? Maybe one day we’ll know all the details of how God is working in our lives to bring us and others to heaven. For now, we’re a bit like the preschooler who can’t stop talking about her upcoming trip to Grandma and Grandpa’s. She doesn’t worry about how she’s getting there. It’s enough for her to know the destination.

A heavenly home is in our future. A heavenly hope surrounds us now.


Prayer:

Dear Father, your Word is truth. Your plans for me are good. Fill me with your sure and certain hope until the day you call me home. Amen.


Written by Sarah Habben
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 8

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

It’s Not About Me…


And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”
Luke 1:46-49


It’s no secret that Mary isn’t given a lot of credit in the Lutheran church compared to other church bodies. We don’t hold her up on a high pedestal. We don’t venerate her as the epitome of womanhood or motherhood.

Guess what? She didn’t think much of herself either.

Look at her words. She calls herself a servant in a humble state. That’s a nice way of saying she was probably poor or lower class. Later in the book of Luke, we learn that she and Joseph could only afford an inexpensive offering to sacrifice when they presented Jesus at the temple.

Mary knows she is not some noble lady from an upper echelon of society. Going back to her earlier question of “How will this be?” she might even be asking, “Why me? Are you sure? Don’t you mean some other woman?”

I wonder if Mary would question all the honor and prayers she receives even today, generations after her death. Her words sure indicate that very thing because she knows it’s not about her. It’s all about God.

“My soul glorifies the Lord.”

“My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

“From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”

It’s all about God. It’s not about Mary, and she knew that. She might have been scared and nervous and questioning the rightness of what was happening, but she knew that it was all because of God. She would only be remembered for generations because God picked her to be a part of the fulfillment of the promise he made to Adam and Eve, the promise that still impacts us today: a Savior.

Can we say that? Can we say, “It’s not about me; it’s about how God can use me to share this good news of promises fulfilled?” This is no time to pat ourselves on the back for being a good person. It is all for his glory.

So should we give Mary more credit as Jesus’ mother? I would say yes, we should. Mary’s own words direct us to glorify and rejoice in God. But Mary also certainly had the most unique motherhood out of anyone in the past, present, or future. And she did it all without taking credit.

She pretty much had the right to gloat about her perfect child, but I’m guessing she didn’t. She tried her best in unusual circumstances without the benefit of wealth or status. She was just humble, normal Mary with an extraordinary son. Can you imagine how she could have boasted that her son saved the world, but at what cost? A “weight of the whole world” cost she couldn’t imagine. She endured the pain of watching her son, her baby, dying a horrific death on a cross, but also found joy in her resurrected Savior.

Call her blessed. Give her credit—not for her greatness, but for her testament of faith bringing the focus back where it belongs: to God who did and does all these things. Holy is his name.


Prayer:

Dear Lord, help us to be like your earthly mother putting the spotlight on you and your power even as you use our lives in ways beyond our thinking. You are the one who gives us special abilities or circumstances. Help us to use our gifts for your glory. Amen.


Written by Jen Wolf
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 7

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Called to Be an Elizabeth


In a loud voice [Elizabeth] exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Luke 1:42-45


“Comparison is the thief of joy” is a statement often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt. However, women know this to be true, and it can be seen all throughout history. I’m not talking about long-ago queens or grasping socialites. Think further back. Think of Rachel and Leah all the way back in Genesis fighting for affection. Were they happy? We’re told of their open hostility toward each other.

Social media has made it even easier for modern women to struggle with comparison. It eats away at them: the house they own, the clothes they wear, their body image, their wealth and status, their relationships and even fertility, etcetera, etcetera, and on, and on… It’s a sinful attribute that humans struggle with all the time. We all fail at being content as God would have us be.

We have no idea what’s going on with another person’s life. Is she advancing up the career ladder but secretly wishing to be home with a baby? Does it look like she is effortlessly leading a Bible study or committee when really she only does it because no one else stepped up (again)? Has she lost weight but is really fighting a bad health struggle? We’re all fighting something. We do not need one more enemy, because we are great at that on our own.

And so God calls us to have the humble contentment of an Elizabeth. Here this woman, who according to Luke had fertility issues and was very old, found out she was going to have a baby boy who would help lead others to their Savior. What a marvelous miracle! In Luke 1:25, she even states feeling like the Lord has finally taken away a disgrace. See? Even Elizabeth struggled with outside opinions and her own feelings of failure.

Now along comes her young cousin, who is not only pregnant, but pregnant with THE SAVIOR. There’s no comparison, no feelings of inadequacy, no hate when Elizabeth shouts her happiness for Mary. She could have easily felt like her miraculous pregnancy was diminished, but no. She is clearly thrilled for her cousin and the news that the Savior would be born in her lifetime. All the waiting, sacrifice, and Jewish laws will soon be unnecessary (although Elizabeth and Mary don’t really know how). Promises of long ago are being fulfilled, and Elizabeth can’t contain her excitement.

Don’t let discontent hinder the excitement and joy we can feel for others. Yes, we may feel discouraged at times, but it is not OK to dim the lights of others. God needed Elizabeth at the right time to be the mother of John the Baptist so that he could lead the way for Mary’s baby boy. You might not know when or how, but God will use you to encourage others just as Elizabeth did for Mary.


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I do not know your plans. I do not know why I have to overcome struggles in my life, but I do know that your ways are better than mine. I know that you want us to encourage others. Please use me as you used Elizabeth to lift the women around me so they can feel your love—whether they are in a period of waiting, wanting, or resting. Keep comparison out of my heart and give me contentment in its place. Amen.


Written by Jen Wolf
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 6

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

The Right Person for the Job


But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20,21


Is there a person in your family who is the quiet glue? You know the person. Things wouldn’t get done if it weren’t for this person, or it wouldn’t feel right if they weren’t there. Perhaps this is the person that you need at a family gathering to keep the peace. They are the link that keeps everyone together.

Joseph could have easily been replaced by another man who traced his ancestry back to Abraham. Or he could have been left out of the situation entirely. And yet God chose Joseph to be Jesus’ earthly father—not because of his job or his social standing, but because of the kind of man he was. In many ways, Joseph would serve like that family glue, would be a steady presence, would provide just what Jesus and Mary needed. If it weren’t for Joseph, Jesus’ earthly family wouldn’t have been the same.

We don’t know much about Joseph, but what we do know points to a strong sense of honor, family, and integrity. He didn’t want to bring disgrace to Mary, the unwed mother. He was faithful and obviously knew the promise of a Savior. He kept the laws, both of Judaism and the Roman government.

After receiving a heavenly message and reassurance that he was the right man for Mary, we can only imagine the side eye looks he and Mary got once she began to show. There is nothing in the Bible that tells us they were shunned or mocked, but with the size of celebrations surrounding weddings, we could guess there would be some gossipy, vindictive people counting how many months until Jesus’ birth. Again, Joseph is the glue that held it together, getting Mary all the way to Bethlehem during her pregnancy, holding on to this promise of a Savior.

Much like Joseph, we can be the steady presence in our families, holding them together and keeping peace among relatives. With Joseph’s unwavering support, he and Mary built a life together. If we’re not the “gluey” one in our family, we can do our best to support those that are. Helping manage family feuds and hurt feelings isn’t an easy job. Those people probably take a lot of hurt on themselves before easing the path toward reconciliation. Joseph probably blocked Mary from a lot of hurtful comments.

If you ever notice paintings of the Nativity, especially those from the very early church, Joseph is rarely included. If he is in the painting, he’s crouched in a dark corner or standing outside of the stable. He might not be the main man in the story, but he certainly served an important part: providing shelter, care, safety, and even love for the Savior of our salvation.

Beyond the early years of Jesus’ life, we don’t know much more about Joseph. But what we do know gives us a good example of how we can trust in God’s will and timing in our lives to strengthen our families and make way for whatever God has for us.


Prayer:

Dear Lord, please use me as an instrument to build up my family and support others who do their best to strengthen others. Even when I don’t understand my role and struggle as Joseph did, help me understand that you have a plan for my life—big or small. Amen.


Written by Jen Wolf
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 5

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Trusting the One Who Has the Answers


“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Luke 1:31-34


Questions follow life-altering news. Whether it’s a diagnosis, a failed attempt, a passed test, an accident, or an achievement, people want to try and wrap their minds around what is going on in their lives. “What is the plan?” “What do I do next?” “How did this happen?” “Why is this happening to me?” “When do I start?” Even the Super Bowl winners get asked, “What will you do now?”—as if they hadn’t just experienced something huge.

Mary’s reaction to finding out she will be the mother of the Savior makes sense in some ways. How will this be? She knows that it is physically impossible, and this is also not the direction she thought her life would go. Marry Joseph? Yes. Make a home with him? Yes. Have children? Yes.

That had all changed. Become pregnant with the future Savior, break the news to Joseph, hope she doesn’t bring dishonor to her family, take a trip to a small town to have her baby among livestock, and need to run to a foreign country to escape a king who wants her infant dead. Not to mention men breaking out in praise when they meet her baby son, losing him as a tween on a trip to Jerusalem, witnessing miracles, being devastated by Holy Week, and experiencing the joy-terror of seeing her son resurrected. Mary’s question might have been different had she known all this was ahead of her.

Mary didn’t know. How could she? We don’t know what’s ahead for us either. Mary focused on the one part that was so very human. She looked only at what was physically impossible—a pregnant virgin—practically ignoring the fact that she was to be the mother of the one of whom prophets spoke and for whom generations hoped.

Even if we think we have great plans (and contingency plans), they can change. A job promotion can turn into a terrible power struggle. A diagnosis can turn from optimistic to tragic (or vice versa). We only think of these things in ways that our finite human brains understand with earthly limitations. How we fit into a God-sized plan is impossible for us to figure out. That’s the great thing, though. We don’t have to figure it out. God already knows how it will work out.

Learning from Mary’s reaction, I think we can agree to change our question. Instead of, “How will this be?” we can ask for strength, acceptance, and trust when we don’t understand what’s happening. We don’t need all the answers. We need the One who has the answers and who will help guide us through any uncertainty in life.


Prayer:

Lord, when my life seems to veer off course because of unexpected change, please help me to accept the change and lean on you. Please open my heart to possibility and show me how I can glorify you in the midst of uncertainty. Finally, help me to be willing to accept the help of those you put in my life to provide me with clarity and comfort. Amen.


Written by Jen Wolf
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 4

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Being the Lord’s Servant


In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:26-38


Being the mother of God incarnate must have been a monumental task. I often wonder whether Mary ever experienced self-doubt at being the mother of Jesus Christ himself. It’s wonderful to me that her response at being told she would carry and raise the son of God was, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled,” instead of, “Are you kidding? That job is too big! Haven’t you seen my flaws?”

I have been overwhelmed and doubted myself at much smaller tasks than Mary’s. “Those aren’t my gifts,” I whine like Moses. “I need more help,” I deflect like Barak. Those are even some of the better days. There are other times I struggle to find the good at all. I look at the tasks God has set before me and I wonder if there was some sort of mix up. Why would he give me a certain challenge or task when he made me the way that he did?

There are personality tests to match people with the best line of work. It makes a lot of sense to put people in positions that align with their skill and values. The idea is that people will be happier doing things that are more congruent with who they are as a person. Yet God doesn’t always choose to work that way. He is not in the business of making people as happy as they can be in this life; he is in the business of saving as many souls as possible from the fires of hell so they can be secure with him in paradise forever.

When God sets a task before you and you can’t see how it aligns with what you believe you’re capable of handling, consider the fact that our Creator also supplies what is needed. He often does not call us to face the greatest obstacles with strengths we already possess, but rather with strengths he intends to give and grow in us on the journey. We are vessels, and if we can get out of the way, God can use us for important kingdom work, regardless of whether or not we understand the method or reason.

Mary didn’t cross reference the role of “bearing the Son of God” with her enneagram or Myers Briggs first, not even her Clifton strengths. She said, “I am the Lord’s servant.” She did not need to first identify the strength and ability within herself; she trusted God to show up with the strength needed.

Trust the Creator as Mary did—not first taking an inventory of your own strengths or abilities, but trusting him who made you to bring you through what he sets before you, regardless of your own perception of your ability to do so.


Prayer:

Heavenly Creator, you know me more intimately than I know myself. Help me to trust you as I face things in this life. Give me trust and joy like Mary’s as I face all you place before me. Amen.


Written by Jes Woller
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 3

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

Fully and Wholly Trusting God


When [Zechariah] came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. When his time of service was completed, he returned home.
Luke 1:22,23


Be careful what you wish for. Zechariah asked Gabriel for a sign that he and his wife would conceive a son, and Gabriel definitely gave him that sign when he removed his ability to speak. Now Zechariah holds incredible and exciting news of the impending miracle and he’s stuck with inexperienced attempts at signing to communicate. He must wait for his son in silence.

Zechariah’s silence was a consequence for doubting God’s plan. He stood before the angel Gabriel himself, who had just delivered the incredible details of a miracle God had set in motion, and Zechariah responded by reminding Gabriel how illogical the plan was, how little sense it made in the context of his age and his wife’s sterility.

You can hear Gabriel’s tone, can’t you? How dare you question God? Silence.

Do you wonder if some of the difficulties we face in this life might be consequences of our doubting? Have you suggested plans to God that made a little more sense in consideration of the gifts, desires, and situation you were in? Can you imagine how different life would be if we fully, wholly trusted God, uninhibited by how little sense God’s plan might make from a worldly perspective?

In this account, it’s worth appreciating that there are certainly consequences for Zechariah’s doubt but God’s plan to roll out this incredible miracle remained unchanged. It is tempting to doubt God’s plan because his timeline is so much different than ours. The difficulty in trust is often in the wait time. Just think about Noah working on an ark in front of everyone while day after day it did not rain. Zechariah was told he was having a son, but he still had to wait for that son to arrive.

Whether it is trusting God to bring us through difficulties in our personal life or trusting that he is present and in control in the midst of so much sin in this world, we often have to wait and trust that God not only has a masterful plan for our benefit, but also has the power and wisdom to carry it out. Trust and patience in difficulty are hard, but just as Zechariah stayed and carried out his priestly duties until his time of service was completed, we too have daily work to do. We too must be diligent in accomplishing what is set before us now, small piece by small piece, prayerfully trusting our Savior to carry us, work through us, and bless us.

In our moments of doubt or error, we are reassured that although there may be consequences, God’s plan for salvation is as firm as ever. Our home in heaven is secure, not dependent on our perfect trust or obedience. There are blessings beyond our imagination in store for us, and trusting God to bring us through to receive them can help comfort us while we wait.


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, your mind, your plan, your power, and your timeline are beyond my imagination. Help me to trust you while I wait, working diligently in the roles you place me. Comfort me with the assurance of the certainty of salvation. Amen.


Written by Jes Woller
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 2

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

An Orderly Account of God’s Artistry


With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Luke 1:3,4


Luke begins this letter to Theophilus with an explanation of why he’s writing. He wants to share this “orderly account,” inspired by the Holy Spirit, to ensure the details of the incredible and miraculous events that have occurred are recorded. There were so many elements at play in the life of Jesus and throughout the Bible. Luke wants to ensure Theophilus, and all of us, keep the story straight and appreciate all that went into play to secure the salvation of our souls.

Have you ever indulged in a movie about an elaborate heist? The Sting, National Treasure, any of the Oceans 11 movies, and so many more create such a fun and complex series of events and personalities in order to carry out a seemingly impossible plan. For weeks (or longer!) you see different people obtaining the right job, item, uniform, or relationship so they can play their specific part. The day finally comes, and countless details are now set in place to accomplish the impossible.

Rescuing our wretched souls for eternal salvation should have been an impossible plan. Yet, in all his wisdom, God put everything in place. Scripture provides an orderly account of how God safeguarded the line of David, inspired and fulfilled prophecies hundreds of years apart, and called countless souls to play their specific roles in his design for divine deliverance.

While it is indeed “finished” and our salvation is won, God is still actively at work in our lives, curating our lived experiences to accomplish important work for his kingdom. The difficulties we face, the relationships we are a part of, and the lessons we learn all work together within his greater plan to grow our faith and strengthen our relationship with him.

Not only do our experiences shape and inform our individual lives and faiths, but they are woven together with the lives of countless other people both in our lifetime and throughout history to create a breathtakingly intricate tapestry. The artistry in God’s design is beyond our imagination.

As we examine our own lives and decipher the orderly account of God’s artistry within them, we can appreciate Luke wanting to share with Theophilus the miraculous details that came together in the life of Jesus. Our own testimony, in conjunction with the inspired Word of God, is a powerful tool in sharing the joy and confidence of salvation with the lost or wavering.

The orderly account within the book of Luke and all of Scripture helps us to appreciate how perfectly God’s plan of salvation comes together so that you and I can be with him forever in paradise—the impossible made possible.


Prayer:

God of wisdom and power, you have made the impossible possible by rescuing my sin-stained soul for salvation. Help me to appreciate the artistry at work throughout Scripture and within my own life. You know no limits, and I marvel at the works of your hand. Amen.


Written by Jes Woller
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Advent Devotion – Christmas Reflections – Day 1

Christmas Reflections: Timeless Truths for Today

A Love For All Eternity


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:1-3


These short verses at the beginning of the Gospel of John are packed with intentionality. They proclaim Jesus as true God both to the Jew and to the Gentile. At the same time, they establish this person of the Godhead to have experience, eternity, and incredible power.

When our congregations merged a few months ago, I found myself in the role of moving coordinator. By the end of summer, I grew to deeply appreciate a core group of men who never failed to show up on our volunteer days. These men knew the building inside and out. I would need whiteboards relocated, shelving units wall mounted, and any other number of specialized tasks. They not only knew which tools the job needed, but they had them along and required no further instruction. In fact, I would have had absolutely no idea how to do many of those things myself. I was entirely reliant on their strength and experience to accomplish what needed to get done. After the first couple of volunteer days, I began to realize how lost I would be without them and worried that they may burn out and stop coming. They never did. Their love for God and for his church compelled them to continue to show up, to do what I could not have possibly done myself.

These were human men, sinful and flawed, but I grew to love and depend on them as they simultaneously showed me my limits and accomplished the goals set before me. How much more does our Savior have the experience and strength to carry us through difficulties in this life? When faced with obstacles, we can trust that our Savior knows not only our lives inside and out but the universe and all eternity. We can rely on the strength and experience of our Savior as well as his relentless love and dependability. Let us deeply appreciate our Savior who never fails to show up.

Our God has known each specialized task that would be set before us since the dawn of time. In all his wisdom, he put them in place himself, and he has been ready with the tools, the experience, and the strength to see us through each one, needing no instruction from us.

His love—his timeless, dependable, and unrelenting love—has not and will not ever burn out or fail to show up. Unlike human men whose love and strength would wane over months and years of our calling on them, our God’s strength and love have been in place for all eternity. That love and might will never wane, and he is eager for us to acknowledge our need for him, to know and rely on his love for us.

You have been loved since the beginning of time by a God who can and will get you through anything and everything set before you.


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, turn our hearts to total dependence on your love and power. We are so often tempted to rely on ourselves, forgetting the might and the love that you would wield if we only stopped trying to do things ourselves. Let not our will, our way, or our strength lead our lives, Lord, but yours alone. Amen.


Written by Jes Woller
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry



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Giving Thanks

Giving Thanks – Women’s Devotion

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 8:10



God’s command to praise him for his blessings can be fulfilled in countless ways. But as you gather for a Thanksgiving meal this week, you may find yourself praying these familiar words,

Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest
and let these gifts to us be blessed.

As a little girl, I remember the taunting aroma of the food while we said the common table prayer. My Grandma made wonderful Greek food at Thanksgiving. Spinach pie. Orange bread. Salad with feta cheese that made my tongue tingle. I remember praying rather casually, thinking mostly about how good the food would be.

Now I’m the Grandma, and I’ve grown up a little.

It delights me to fill my table with amazing dishes, but when we join in the common table prayer, I’m not distracted by the food. I’m thankful for the gift of food but I’m mostly praying for the people in the seats. They are the priceless gifts that I want to be blessed by God. As my family gathers, I’m overcome with the joy of knowing that Jesus is our guest. His grace, planted in our hearts through baptism, continues to be nurtured by the Word of God.

Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.
His mercy endures forever.

God’s mercy has endured, giving salvation to families for generations. As your loved ones gather this Thanksgiving, Jesus will be with you. May you be blessed with love for one another and love for Jesus.

But if there are troubled or wandering souls at your table, you can still give thanks—because God is good, and his mercy endures forever. He longs to save the lost and is working to draw people to himself, even as they sit at your table. Jesus is the gracious guest who comes to extend his love forever—and he shows his love to others through you.

Table prayers are a clear reminder of God’s presence, provision, and gift of mercy. May those who join you for the holidays hear the beautiful testimony and humble plea for God’s enduring mercy.



Prayer:
Lord God, as we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, we praise you for your countless blessings. As we sit with our loved ones or treasure them in our hearts, we rejoice in the salvation that joins us together. But where there are those who have stumbled, lost their way, or do not know your grace, we pray for opportunities to open our homes and show others your enduring mercy. Let our lives reflect your desire to come as our Savior from sin and bring the gift of eternal life. Amen.



Written by Naomi Schmidt





Prepare

Prepare – Women’s Devotion


We’ve all heard the common phrase, “Hindsight is 20/20.” That ability to look back with clarity on a situation is priceless. We often recall the past day or week and say, “I wish I would have done this,” or “I wish I would have done that.” Hindsight is well, hindsight. It’s over with, it’s done. How much better to be present, or plan for the future and act correctly? Here’s our chance for “20/20 Foresight!” In these verses, Jesus tells us exactly what to do.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:34-46

Hospitality . . . are you hospitable?

We are all capable of simple acts of kindness. We just need to have a ready and willing heart. God’s expectation is clear in these verses from Matthew and is repeated throughout Scripture. Romans 12:13 states, “Practice hospitality” and Jesus clarifies that we should be hospitable to all—friend, foe, stranger, healthy, sick, imprisoned, and more. It makes no difference in God’s sight, we are his children therefore we should be hospitable. In fact, hospitality is a fruit of our faith and a wonderful way for us to show God’s love.

Hospitality . . . are you not hospitable?

Admittedly being hospitable takes time, may cost money, and can interrupt plans. But are these any reasons not to be hospitable? Jesus simply says, “Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” No exceptions. When we fail to do what God commands, we are committing a sin of omission. James 4: 17 says, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” God wants us to obey his law. If we have an opportunity to obey, and don’t do it, we have committed a sin of omission. Therefore, let’s be prepared to obey!

Hospitality . . . what does it look like?

Hospitality is always in season, but perhaps as this time of year rolls around there is even more opportunity, or we simply become more keenly aware of others’ needs. Ultimately, your hospitality is an overflow of your faith and a willingness to share God’s love and good news with others. So, what does hospitality look like? That’s up to you and the unique situation God has blessed you with, however, here are a few thoughts to get you started.

  • Bake a pie or a plate of cookies to share with family, friends, or others in your community.
  • Invite people from your neighborhood to church.
  • Serve at a homeless shelter or food pantry.
  • Hold the door for someone going in or out.
  • Cut lawn/shovel snow for a neighbor or shut-in.
  • Smile.
  • Host a Bible study or hymn sing.
  • Invite fellow church members to share the holidays with you, especially if they may be alone this season.

We can serve others with hospitality in so many ways with actions that are small, medium, or large. Let God guide your hospitable acts as expressions of faith.

Hospitality . . . is it worth it?

Hospitality is a blessing for all involved, the receiver and the giver. When you are hospitable, your faith is evident, your relationships are strengthened, and your light shines. Even as you serve others, you will find joy and encouragement to continue acts of kindness. A busier season of the year will soon be upon us. Take time now to use the “20/20 Foresight” you are given in this section of Matthew—make your hospitality plan for this season and the year ahead. How grand it will be to hear Jesus direct these words to you one day, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”





Written by Trish Plichta





Missional Living

Missional Living – Women’s Devotion

Missional living is a mindset that adapts the daily actions, thinking, and practices of a missionary to share the gospel message with others.



Jesus says, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Roughly paraphrased, that means “in your home, community, beyond your community and into all the world.” This is missional living. The idea is simply a Christ-centered mindset that sees our daily lives as a mission field where we can share God’s grace and love with others.

The concept of living as a missionary can be hard to grasp, but the pressure isn’t on us to make it work. We know the Holy Spirit is working to draw people to God. So, when you look at someone, you can ask yourself, “Is God working to reach this person with his love and grace? Does this person need forgiveness and hope?” The answer will be yes. It will always be yes. Jesus said, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35). We live with our eyes open, trusting that God has planted fields and created us as workers to watch and care for the fruit as it ripens.

Imagine your life as a gigantic apple orchard with paths that lead you to work, the gym, grocery stores, coffee shops, and home again. There is a path to your school, a local park, and places where you enjoy recreation. Walk that path with more purpose than reaching your destination. Open your eyes and look around you! You are surrounded by fruited trees that may be weak or dying. Ask, “Where can I love, encourage, or nurture faith? Can I befriend someone God is trying to reach?” The concept of missional living sees that daily life is full of opportunities because God is tilling, planting, and nurturing faith all around us. He is doing the work, and he will open your eyes to see it. Grace moves your heart to respond and join in his work.

What does that sound like?
“Hi, I think I’ve seen you when I’ve been at school events with my kids. Do you have kids here?” Have a casual conversation. Listen. Be a friend. Think, “Jesus wants this parent to know about his grace and love. I wonder how I could share that with him?”

People are thirsting for caring relationships. People need hope and love. People ache to be free of the guilt and shame they hide. We have been in the same place—separated from God by sin and in desperate need of a Savior. Now, with grace-filled hearts, we are moved to point others to his boundless mercy. The Spirit is working to save the lost and wants you to look at the fields and live in a way that seeks to love God’s harvest. His field. His work. Your opportunity to join him.





Written by Naomi Schmidt





Community in church

Community in church – Women’s Devotion


In spring 2023, the US surgeon general released a report about social connection, sharing that the country is in an epidemic of loneliness and isolation. Even before the pandemic, with its subsequent isolation, about half of U.S. adults reported experiencing loneliness. From the surgeon general’s point of view, that’s a health risk because the physical consequences include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia.

For those of us who are Christians, how can we make a difference? Well, we obey the encouragement in Galatians 6:10: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

We do good to people with different political, social, and religious beliefs; to our coworkers, boss, or employees; to grouchy neighbors, people at the gym, and members of the book club.
But let’s not overlook the part that tells us to do good “especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” See, while loneliness may have physical dangers, loneliness in the church can present spiritual dangers. If people don’t feel loved in the family of believers, they might get bitter, stop coming to church, grow distant from people who can keep them connected to God.

As Christians, we are in a unique position to give people community, because we have the best community ever. It’s a family that loves each other now and lives together with God eternally. So, for now, with the Holy Spirit living in us, we have the gift of being the ones who make human connection. We use the specific gifts God has given us to bless the family. We listen to each others’ hurts, celebrate each others’ joys. We practice hospitality, encourage each other, and hold each other accountable, which is the hard part of friendship. We pray with and for each other. Ultimately, we “one another” each other.





Written by Linda Buxa