Tag Archive for: womens-devotion

Keep the faith

Keep the faith – Women’s Devotion


“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. All this I have told you so that you do not go astray.”
John 15:26-16:1



The past couple summers I have had the privilege of helping coach at a girl’s grade school basketball camp through the local Lutheran high school. While I greatly enjoy teaching the girls basketball skills, I also love being a part of this wonderful ministry opportunity. During one of the opening devotions this past summer, a coach gave a very memorable devotion on a phrase frequently used by his mom. The coach talked about how his mom would always say “keep the faith” instead of saying “good bye” to family members whenever they would leave. Through this simple but powerful phrase, she conveyed to her loved ones how much she cared about their relationship with their Savior.

Preceding the events of his passion as they unfolded in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus had a similar message for his disciples. Instead of giving an emotional farewell before his trek to Calvary, Jesus expressed to his disciples his concern about their relationship with him. He knew, being true God, how much his disciples would suffer because of him, and he knew the temptations that awaited them. Out of love, he warned his disciples of the persecution they would endure for following him. He told the disciples that the world would hate them as it had hated him. He didn’t want them to be unaware of the hardships they were about to face.

Jesus also knew they couldn’t face these hardships alone, so he gave them a promise. He promised to send the Counselor. This Counselor, the Holy Spirit, would fill the hearts of the disciples later at Pentecost.

All that Jesus said to the disciples in the upper room attested to the depth of his love for them. He explained to them, “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.” (John 16:1) Jesus’ desire above all else was that they keep the faith.

Jesus has the same loving concern for all believers. He knows that we, like the disciples, will be tempted to fall away from his teachings. While we cannot sustain our own faith, God has mercifully given us his Word through which our Counselor, the Holy Spirit, works in our hearts. Our confidence for the continued preservation of our faith rests solely on the power of the message of Christ. For this reason, it is important that we regularly hear, read, and study the Word to nurture the faith worked in us. With hearts firmly rooted in Christ, we can rest assured that we will keep the faith.



Prayer: Dear Lord, we praise you for working faith in our hearts. We pray that you preserve our faith and the faith of all those who have come to know you. We ask that you help us to hold onto your teachings, so that we may never go astray. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 



For Further Reading: John 13-16

Written by Hannah Hackbarth
Reviewed by Professor-emeritus Joel Gerlach





Jesus calls me a friend

Jesus calls me friend – Women’s Devotion


“While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.’ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him. Jesus replied, ‘Friend, do what you came for.’ Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.”
Matthew 26:47-50



The story of Judas’ betrayal is one we’ve heard many times. Because it is so familiar we may find it difficult to keep our minds from skimming over the details or wandering someplace else entirely. To guard against this, it’s helpful to think about each word or phrase, letting us paint a picture in our minds, asking what these details of the story add to what we already know. When going through this exercise, the word “friend” may jump out of Matthew’s writing as a bit peculiar, given the story line. As we spend some time thinking about it, we realize a great invitation is conveyed in that one word.

Judas had been a member of Jesus’ inner circle: a disciple, a missionary and a friend along with the other eleven. It wouldn’t be unusual for Jesus to address him as a friend. But we know the rest of the story. We know the holy, sinless Son of God extended friendship to the man whom we now consider one of the most despised characters ever to be named in Scripture. When he did it, Jesus knew everything there was to know. He knew that Judas had betrayed him for thirty measly pieces of silver. He knew that the kiss he had just received from the betrayer’s lips had delivered him into the hands of his tormentors. He knew all this and more. Yet he called him “friend”! In that last fleeting moment Jesus let him know that in spite of Judas’ treachery and betrayal, Jesus would not betray his friend. That night in the Garden of Gethsemane the Savior’s full gospel invitation was pressed into that one little word.

Our sins, along with those of Judas, were heaped on Jesus’ shoulders that night, and stung his flesh with whip and nails. Jesus reaches out to you and me in the same way he extended the hand of friendship to Judas. We too are included in those pain-­-racked words “Father, forgive them!” (Luke 23:34) Jesus turns to us and calls each of us “Friend.”

We’ve certainly done nothing to earn the honor and privileges associated with these words. If we examine our own sins, betrayals, and omissions, they may look much more like those of Judas than we care to admit. If we are honest with ourselves, we might even find ample reason to despair of all hope. But don’t do it! Jesus implores us to repent of every sin, no matter how horrible, and he welcomes us back, no matter how far we’ve strayed. He wants each of us to be his friend!



Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank you for calling us your friends. We know you will never desert or betray us, even when this is what we deserve. We thank you for taking all of our sins on your shoulders and wiping the slate clean so we may look forward to eternity with you in heaven. We thank you for the blessing of forgiveness, which fills us with peace and encouragement as we repent of our sins. We thank you for helping us turn away from our sinful ways and helping us lead lives that reflect your grace. We thank you for sending us the Holy Spirit who has worked faith in our hearts, making these gifts ours. Amen.







If anyone thirsts

If anyone thirsts – Women’s Devotion


On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
John 7:37-38



This great day was during the Feast of Tabernacles. During this festival, the Israelites were required to live in tents for seven days in remembrance of their 40 of years wandering through the desert. Over the years, one particular ceremony had become tradition during this festival. Each day, at the time of the morning sacrifice, a priest led a procession to draw water out of the Pool of Siloam with a golden pitcher. After drawing the water, he returned to a temple filled with worshippers. During the priest’s ascent to the altar with the pitcher, the worshippers sang the words from Isaiah 12:3: “With joy you shall draw water from the wells of salvation.” On the “last and greatest day” trumpets blasted as the priest spilled the water and drink offering onto the altar. This day served to commemorate God’s miracle of water from the rock given to the thirsty Israelites at Meribah. (Exodus 17: 1-7)

It was at this point that Jesus stood and called, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” During a ceremony reminding the people of how God satisfied their greatest physical need, Jesus offered himself as satisfaction for their greatest spiritual need. It must have momentarily stopped the service as every head turned in unison to find the source of this bold claim. John records there had been much controversy among the Jews at the festival regarding who Jesus was. Now, at the climax of the celebration, Jesus answered their questions by standing to say, in no uncertain terms, that he was the Christ whose sacrifice would fully atone for sin. Jesus ended all discussion with this announcement. For those at the sacred assembly, the only thing left to consider was whether what Jesus said was meant for them.

The question remains for consideration still today: “If anyone thirsts…” For some, the answer is “No.” They are too busy running children to activities, caring for elderly parents or pursuing professional goals even to take notice of their condition. Others live a comfortable lifestyle, enjoying the pleasures that come with it, and don’t see a need for what Jesus has to offer. Some might recognize the need, but feel they are quite capable of taking care of it on their own. There are also those gathered in the “sacred assembly” who come, but don’t drink. They continue to thirst because they sip on fellowship, meetings and programs, but don’t let Jesus fill them.

The unfortunate truth is that all of them are thirsty. Like the golden pitcher, they find themselves empty day after day. Repeatedly poured out into distractions, laziness and pride, they return to things that do not satisfy their thirst. Jesus’ offer is meant for them because only he can satisfy. But they don’t see it or want it. Sadly, their unquenched thirst will lead to death. Women’s Ministry Devotion

But for those who are aware of their thirst, the words of Jesus are an invitation. Too long they have wandered in the desert of guilt and shame. They are sorry for choices that left Jesus out of their life, and long for forgiveness. They know they’ve wasted his gifts and blessings on selfish living. They crave peace, knowing their attempts to earn God’s favor in the past have failed. To them, this invitation to “come and drink” is a gift that gives pardon for sins, peace with God, and life eternal. They drink deeply, knowing that streams of living water will flow from within them. To the thirsty, Jesus’ offer of himself is a gift received in humble thanks by those knowing they would be spiritually dead without it.

Jesus’ disturbance at the Feast of Tabernacles was intentional. He wanted everyone to know exactly who he was. The way he addressed the crowd was also intentional. He wanted everyone to know why he came. We have this account written in the Word so that we intentionally consider our need. “If anyone thirsts…” Those who recognize their helpless condition receive his simple invitation to come to him and drink. In Jesus, God has provided for our greatest spiritual need.



Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, you’ve told me in your Word that only Jesus quenches thirst. Forgive me for pursuing all the things that fail to quench my thirst. I am thirsty. I thirst for the forgiveness and grace that is only possible through Jesus. Thank you for his sacrifice and the life that it has given me. Continue to nourish my soul by the Holy Spirit through Word and sacrament. In the name of Jesus. Amen.



Written by Dawn Schulz
Reviewed by Professor David Sellnow





God provides extravagantly

God provides extravagantly – Women’s Devotion


“They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.”
Mark 6:42-43



This passage comes from a very familiar Bible account: Jesus feeding the five thousand. I happened to reread Mark’s description of this miraculous meal at an anxious time in my life. I was wondering if certain needs would be met. Maybe you have had the same experience: the checking account is empty and there are bills left to pay, or an illness is plaguing you or a loved one. Maybe the needs are emotional: loneliness, lack of friends or support, or a feeling of exhaustion with no relief in sight.

Mark tells us that Jesus and the twelve disciples had slipped into a boat, intending to get away from the crowds for a little while. However, as they sailed to their destination, a remote place likely off the Sea of Galilee, the crowds followed Jesus and the disciples on foot. They were so eager to be near Jesus that many walked five to ten miles! After walking all that distance, then listening to Jesus teach until late in the day, the multitude was hungry. Jesus saw their hunger. And he provided food. This great crowd of people, 5,000 men plus women and children, ate and ate and ate until they were completely satisfied. And there were leftovers—basketfuls of them!

On rereading this account, the question arose in my mind: Why did Jesus provide so much extra? Why 12 basketfuls more than the crowd could even eat?

As I reflected on those 12 baskets of extra food, I could only acknowledge in awe that we have an extravagant God. He delights in providing generously. It is pure joy for him to give extravagantly. He satisfies our needs, then lavishes us with even more. We may see this extravagant provision in our material blessings from God: our homes, our vehicles, our clothes, our food. We may look at our parents, our spouses, our children, our grandchildren, and say, “Yes, I am extravagantly blessed.” And every one of us certainly can say that we have received extravagant spiritual provision. God did not only remove our sins from us—as incredible as it is that he took care of this our greatest need. He also continues to do even more! He abundantly provides spiritual gifts like wisdom for daily life, power to persevere, and his own constant companionship. Truly he lavishes us with extravagant grace. As St. Paul says, God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

And why? Why so much extra? Because he can, and because he loves us.

Thinking about those 12 baskets of leftovers, I was reminded of a line from I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb: “For my Shepherd gently guides me/knows my needs and well provides me.” Our God sees our needs, just as surely as he saw the needs of the great crowd gathered to hear him on that hillside in Galilee. And our God provides. He provides well. Yes, he provides extravagantly.



Prayer: Dear Jesus, I thank and praise you for seeing my needs and providing so well for me. Please forgive me for my failures to trust you. I turn over to you a need in my life, trusting you will provide … (insert your own need or request). Amen







Our garment of salvation

Our garment of salvation – Women’s Devotion


“I delight greatly in the LORD, my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Isaiah 61:10



For many women, the most beautiful garment they have ever worn or ever hope to wear is their wedding gown. It is costly—often the most expensive article of clothing a woman will ever buy. It has the power to transform a woman, to make her beautiful and radiant for one very special day.

Isaiah uses this picture to illustrate our radiant appearance before God because of what Jesus has done for us. Jesus died to take away our sins, and in doing so, he took away everything that made us ugly before God. Jesus also lived a perfect life in our place. He has given us his perfection to wear—a beautiful, spotless gown. By providing for us this garment of salvation—which cost him so dearly—he has transformed us. It’s a transformation so breathtaking and profound that it can only be hinted at in Isaiah’s picture of a woman being made exquisitely beautiful for her wedding day.

This transformation is not just for a day. Unlike a wedding gown, which is worn once and then packed away, we wear our priceless gown from Jesus every day. God sees us in this gown today, tomorrow, and always. We are beautiful in his eyes, and each day we come before him without any fear or shame.

When I look in the mirror with the eyes of faith, I, too, see the beautiful, precious gown that makes me pure and radiant before my God. Jesus has purchased it and dressed me in it. No one can ever take it away from me. I thank him for it, and my heart rejoices.



Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank and praise you for sending Jesus to clothe me in the gown of his righteousness that makes me pure and beautiful before you. Forgive me for the times that I have failed to thank you for this gift. Let my love for you grow more and more as I remember and reflect on the precious garment that I wear every day. Amen.







From pain to praise

From pain to praise – Women’s Devotion


“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18



We all have days where it is hard to be thankful for life’s circumstances. I once found myself in the home of a woman whose marriage was touched by infidelity. Even though her husband shed tears of remorse,she looked at me with searching eyes. She looked for direction, some kind of hope. She saw the cross necklace that was dangling from my neck and picked it up gently with her hand. At that moment, I invited her to church with me. This woman didn’t grow up in the house of God; she didn’t know his promises like I knew them—promises of unchanging certainty and grace. Even in such a devastating circumstance, I thanked God for his wisdom because he leads even the most broken-down and lost sinners to his grace.

Paul and Silas faced similar circumstances when they were thrown into prison during their missionary journey in Philippi. Although they were torn up and bleeding after having been flogged, Paul and Silas still found it fitting to pray and sing hymns to God. In their suffering, they saw the goodness of God and the beauty of his grace. How can this be? How can God’s people find grace and mercy in the Lord when their lives so often reflect hardship and suffering? Just like the woman mentioned before, we look to the cross for the answer.

God does not leave us alone to suffer for our sins and the sins of others. Instead, he gives us the strength to bear with all the burdens of this world through Jesus Christ, his only Son. He saw the world as it was, sinful and needing a Savior. God sent his Son to die for the sins of the world, even the sins of today. We are forgiven in Christ because he took away all of our sins. Jesus took on the ultimate pain and suffering so that we may have God’s grace and forgiveness. In our world of suffering, God does more for us than reassure us in our pain, he takes it all away. He promises that “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Paul and Silas knew God’s grace for them because he gave them eternal life through Jesus. They did not fret over the struggles of this world because they knew God loved them. The same can be said for us. No matter what pain we experience in this life, we know that God has forgiven us and has given us the promise of eternal life in Jesus.

So whether we suffer from marital troubles, health problems, imprisonment, or day-to-day struggles, we can turn our pain to praise. We thank God in all circumstances because of what he did for us. He gave us life in Christ. We are forgiven. We will receive his eternal inheritance and live without pain. We will forever sing his praise in his courts. We are his and our hope is sure in Christ Jesus our Lord.



Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us hope even in our times of suffering. Help us to praise you in all circumstances, just as you will for us in Christ Jesus. Help our praise for you reflect the confidence we have in your promises. And may our praise in turn lead others to your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.



For Further Reading:
Acts 16: 16-40

Written by Brooke King
Reviewed by Professor Lyle Lange





Finding true peace

Finding true peace – Women’s Devotion


“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27



“Can’t I just get a little peace?!” Whether it is trying to make ends meet, take care of the kids, put time in at work, deal with those little day-to-day inconveniences, or a combination of all of the above, our lives can get pretty hectic. Or maybe “hectic” is too tame a word for the troubles you may be experiencing in your life. Perhaps you are worried, sick, sorrowful, or angry. So how do you go about finding peace? You could lose yourself in a good book, see a counselor, do yoga every morning, go to seminars to learn how to get out of debt, vent to friends and family, give yourself some me-time each day…the list could go on.

Right before the start of Chapter 14 of John, Jesus’ disciples have just received the troubling news of his impending death. In the above passage, Jesus promises his peace. The world’s peace is fleeting and meaningless, but Jesus’ peace is different. Jesus’ peace comes from his amazing, limitless love. Jesus gives us the peace of the Holy Spirit, the ultimate Counselor, who enters our hearts and creates faith. When we hear the Gospel message, we are reminded of all Christ has done for us. He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death to forgive all our sins, and rose again to conquer death and win the victory over the Devil. As a result of Jesus’ work, God no longer threatens us with the condemnation we have earned by our disobedience. Rather we are at peace with God through faith in Jesus. Even now Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven. We have the peace of knowing what comes next after this life has ended. We have the peace of God’s promises to be with us and work out everything for our good. Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” With God on our side, what have we to fear?

While yoga and venting sessions and self-help solutions may offer temporary peace, we find true peace—the peace of Jesus—in God’s Word. Immerse yourself in it! Let that be the start and end to your day. Talk to God in prayer; he’s the best listener there is. Let him be your first go-to person when you feel troubled. Consider all the blessings, both spiritual and physical, that God has given you. While the world around us is in turmoil, Jesus gives us peace within. It is such good news that we can’t keep it to ourselves. Share that peace with others! Show them a peace that comes with certainty and trust—certainty that a life of glory awaits us in heaven, and trust that Jesus will be with us every step of the way there.



Prayer:
Lord, you I love with all my heart; I pray you ne’er from me depart;
With tender mercies cheer me.
Earth has no pleasure I would share; heaven itself were void and bare
If you, Lord, were not near me.
And should my heart for sorrow break, my trust in you no one could shake.
You are the treasure I have sought; your precious blood my soul has bought.
Lord Jesus Christ, My God and Lord, my God and Lord,
Forsake me not! I trust your Word. (Christian Worship 434:1)



Written by Megan Wohlrabe
Reviewed by Professor Lyle Lange





Eating dirt

Eating dirt – Women’s Devotion


 “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
James 2:15-17



Last year I read a newspaper story that continues to haunt me. It told how some of Haiti’s poorest people could no longer afford food. To fill their bellies, they regularly turned to eating cookies made of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening. A 16-year-old girl said they give her a stomachache and her nursing baby got colicky, but she either eats the cookies or nothing at all.

The first emotion that came to mind was horror, then shame at the way we waste food in this country when not so far away people must eat dirt to lessen the pangs of starvation. This was followed quickly by a desperate desire to somehow help these destitute souls.

As the image of this young mother lingers in my mind, I realize there are ways we all can help her and others like her. Many humanitarian aid organizations provide food and other vital aid to destitute people in this country as well as others all around the world. Their appeals for money come to us on TV, in newspapers and magazines, in the mail, and on the Internet. At times we ignore the appeals because we’re too busy, or because we’ve convinced ourselves we can’t afford it, or because we get the idea those people could help themselves if they just tried, or maybe because we just don’t care. Our excuses are legion. Too often we ignore the opportunity to help, as the thought that someone else will come to their aid flits through our minds, and we go about our business.

James, however, is quite clear in telling us that a quick goodwill thought is not enough as he explains that all talk and no action is incompatible with a growing faith. James isn’t telling us that we must respond to every request for humanitarian aid or perform other types of good works because they help us earn favor or help us earn our salvation. Anything done for this purpose is worthless in God’s sight because it is being done for selfish reasons. Jesus did all that was needed for the salvation of everyone when he suffered and died on the cross. Not one of us can do anything to add to this gift of salvation or to make ourselves look better in God’s sight.

James is telling us that as the Holy Spirit makes faith take root in our hearts and we begin to understand God’s will for us, a change comes into our lives. This change helps us meditate on the magnitude of our free gift of salvation, made ours through the suffering and death of Jesus. The Spirit motivates us to want to do God’s will purely for the joy of pleasing God. When we see someone who needs help and we recognize this as an opportunity to serve, we are thanking God for the many ways he generously meets our physical and spiritual needs. As our faith grows stronger, our desire to serve grows also. This is the type of faith in action of which James speaks.

We can make a difference in this world. We can help those who are suffering, knowing God is pleased when we serve him in this way. Through our compassion, God uses us to bless those in need.



Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for being slow to share the material blessings you have given me. In humble repentance and with thanksgiving for your abundant grace and mercy, I ask you to use me as your instrument to serve others. Let me recognize the opportunities for Christian service that you put in my path, and give me the desire to act on those opportunities. I come boldly to you in the name of Jesus, your Son and my Savior. Amen.







Dear God, can you tell me why?

Dear God, can you tell me why? – Women’s Devotion




I held her in my arms as she sobbed. After 23 years of marriage, he just left. He claimed he was looking for love. But she knew love would have stayed. Why? Why did this happen? Why didn’t he talk about it? Why didn’t he think about their son? Why could he find someone else so easily?

“Why” questions like these absorb my thoughts during life’s most difficult times. Unwelcome and maddening, they insert themselves into situations already overcome with sorrow, loss and pain. There they wait, demanding an answer, but only giving doubt and fear. Why can’t I find work? Why does my child have special needs? Why can’t I make ends meet? Why doesn’t anyone understand me? These “whys” ricochet through my mind, leaving me beat up and frustrated. I want validation. Understanding. Peace. But these questions don’t have answers. Not easy or satisfying ones. And so they remain, lurking in the shadows, only to reappear at my most vulnerable moments. And in those moments, the lack of answers drives me to question everything: myself, my actions, my God. Why?

In Scripture, I find I’m not alone. Moses, Job, David, Jeremiah and countless numbers of God’s children asked him the same questions: “Why? Why is this happening? Why would you do this? Why does my enemy prosper? Why don’t I? Why have you forgotten me?”i They asked these questions with full expectation of an answer. We can, too. God does rebuke a challenging “why” with these words: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Deuteronomy 16:6) But Jesus encourages us to pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1) God wants us to bring our “whys” to him, expectant of an answer. He longs to be gracious to us.

Even Jesus, God’s own Son, asked his heavenly Father, “Why?” In the midst of his agony on the cross, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

And as I hear those words, my own “whys” fade away. I know the answer to Jesus’ question. I know he was rejected because of me. I’ve doubted his love in my circumstances and blamed him for the spot I’m in. I’ve asked only what his hand will do to make it better, and not his blessing of wisdom and acceptance in the situation. In sorrow, I have turned elsewhere for comfort, hoping to make it all go away. But it didn’t go away. It went to the cross. There, God took the payment required for my resentment, bitterness, and rage. He took his righteous anger out on Jesus so that I could be forgiven and given new life.

And then another “why” looms large. Why would God do that? Why would he punish his perfect Son for something I did? Why do I benefit? I can’t make sense of these “whys.” But they do have an answer. God is love. In other words, he can’t help himself. The Bible says it like this: “God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:8-10)

Why did God forsake Jesus? So he wouldn’t have to forsake me.

Jesus made it possible for God to keep every single one of the promises he made to me. No matter what rejection, failure or loss come into my life, I know God will be faithful to the promises he’s made. He will always be with me. (Hebrews 13:5) Nothing can separate me from his love. (Romans 8:38-39) I will not be ashamed. (Psalm 25:3) I have nothing to fear. (Isaiah 41:10) His presence will always be with me to comfort me with the assurance of forgiveness and a future with him in heaven. In the difficult times, when all I can do is ask “Why?” God will not reject or abandon me. Instead, he will wrap me in his promises of hope, and point me to the cross where he showed the full extent of his love for me.



Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for being rejected so that I wouldn’t have to be. Forgive me when I lose sight of what that means for me in my current situation. Calm my troubled heart with your promise of the new life you have won for me. In your name I pray. Amen.



Written by Dawn Schulz
Reviewed by Prof. David Sellnow

For examples of “why” questions asked by believers in Scripture, see Exodus 5:22, Exodus 32:11, Joshua 7:7, Job 10:18, Psalm 42:9 and Jeremiah 12:1.





Continuing Education

Continuing Education – Women’s Devotion


“Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” 
Proverbs 9:9



This summer my husband attended three classes in order to earn the required credits to renew his state teaching license. Many other professions such as doctors, nurses, plumbers, and pilots also require or encourage continuing education. These opportunities for additional learning help improve work-related skills, teach new technology, offer job security, and encourage and inspire us.

As summer winds down and back-to-school sales flourish in every store, I wistfully remember my own school days. While it has been a long time since I sat in a school desk, I am still learning.  I recently tried a new bread recipe and learned how to make a “sponge.” While reading one of my daughter’s library books, I learned about child movie stars in the 1940’s. I took an online writing course last summer, and learned how to use a Smart Board while substitute teaching this year. While I’m not earning a degree in any of these endeavors, I am growing in knowledge.

Are you a lifelong learner? What have you done recently to continue learning? One area in which we all need to continue to grow is our knowledge of God’s Word. Aren’t you glad that God does not require us to earn a certain number of credit hours before he renews our status as “God’s Children?” Jesus secured that status for us with his perfect life and redeeming death on the cross. Now God encourages us to be lifelong learners and lovers of his Word, which teaches and reminds us of this saving truth.

When was the last time you memorized a new passage from God’s Word, or relearned an old favorite? One day while I helped my daughter practice her “memory treasures” to recite for Lutheran elementary school, she asked me, “Why don’t you have to practice a Bible passage to recite?” I almost answered, “Because I already know them.” Then I thought better of it. Did I really know every passage in the Bible?  Hardly! So instead I said, “Good idea! I’m sure I should. I do know many of these, but it’s been a long time since I memorized a new one.”

I encourage you to continue your education in God’s Word in whatever way you can, whether by memorizing Scripture, reading through a section of your Bible each day, taking an online Bible study course (see www.wels.net/adult-discipleship), attending a Bible class at church, or perhaps taking a class through Martin Luther College or Wisconsin Lutheran College. Motivated by our Savior’s love for us, we take advantage of these opportunities for growth, trusting God’s promise that he will bless our efforts.

Our assignment: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18



Prayer: Dear Lord, help me make it a priority to learn and love your Word. May I not only read and learn it, but also live it, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Amen.



Written by Katrina Brohn
Reviewed by Professor Joel Gerlach





Building a great marriage: quality workmanship

Building a great marriage: quality workmanship


“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”
Psalm 127:1-2



Quality workmanship takes hard work, knowledge, and high standards. But who has extra energy, or time to develop better interpersonal skills? And who needs another reminder of the law’s demand for perfection? Take heart! God doesn’t give you the gift of marriage (complete with quality materials!) and then leave you to do it on your own. He is here to strengthen and guide you as you labor to build a strong marriage!

Where do you find the energy to work at your marriage? “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10)! That doesn’t mean you are an inexhaustible bundle of energy. It means you are motivated and encouraged by God’s love! It means Christ is the foundation of your life, and the source of all you do. It means that when you’re not motivated by the progress you see in your marriage, you keep at it, “as if you were serving the Lord” (Eph. 6:7) because you are!

When you are overwhelmed and frustrated with your marriage, you run into the arms of your Savior and remember that He is the only one who can ever love you perfectly (Jeremiah 31:3). When you feel like you just can’t do it alone, He reminds you that you are not alone (Matthew 28:20). When you just don’t feel like doing it at all, He reminds you of His sacrificial love which restores the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:12). The joy of marriage and the love of a husband are incredible blessings, but they are not your source of strength; they bring wonderful delight, but they are not the fountain of life. Christ is. By seeking God first, in His Word, you will be better equipped to love your husband with renewed strength and wisdom.

How can you deepen your knowledge and insight as you build a strong marriage? God’s Word is always the start, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps. 111:10). With His wisdom, you can be sensitive to your husband’s need for respect, and work to honestly and openly express respect for him publically and privately. Not because he has earned or deserves it, but because God tenderly speaks to your heart that it is what he needs; because God asks you to respect your husband as an expression of your love for Him. With the strength from His Word you will be able to forgive seventy times seven, even when you’ve really, really been hurt. You forgive because you know how freely and completely Christ forgave you, not because your husband finally apologized. You will also be able to apologize and admit your faults without excuses and justification because you are no longer a slave to sin. With His love, you’ll be motivated to do the little things: a kind word, a supportive smile, or a re-­-heated dinner plate after a late meeting, even if he forgets to say, “Thanks.” You love because Christ loved you first, not because your husband is always lovable.

Finally, what are the high standards to keep in mind? “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 11:44). God’s standards are unattainably high! So why is it that we sometimes feel the need to make the standard even higher? We often times feel (or internally create) pressure to be a perfect wife with a perfect marriage! Marriage can begin to feel like one more unattainable standard to pursue rather than the encouragement it is meant to be. Marriage can seem like a burden instead of a blessing.

When you’re discouraged and feel like you aren’t the perfectly happy wife, you need to look at your Savior. You need to remember that everything you are supposed to be as a wife, a mother, a church member, a housekeeper, cook, and chauffer has been fulfilled by our perfectly obedient Savior. He lived a perfect life on your behalf. And after He lived a perfect, obedient life, He gave it up to pay for your failures. Remember the suffering He bore to give you His righteousness. You are free from the yoke of slavery and the burden of sin, free from the law and all life’s demands. Let your heart and mind rest on the laurels of your Savior and release you from the pressure to do and be more than you ever could. He invites you, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-­-30). He says it; we need to take Him at His Word and believe it.

Marriage isn’t easy but it is a gift from the Lord and He will bless it. It is worth every ounce of effort you put into it, especially when Satan and your sinful flesh are working to tear it apart. Cherish the priceless materials He’s given you to build it strong. Depend on His powerful Word to energize and teach you, and always, most importantly, let it bring you to the loving arms of your Savior for forgiveness and His perfect love.



Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are my joy and greatest delight. Help me to always treasure the precious relationship we share. Remind me of its cost, Lord – the priceless blood of Your Son – and keep me humble and thankful for Your grace. But let that beautiful message also draw me to you and motivate me in all I do. Let Your salvation be my true source of joy and strength as I live for you. Encourage me to be a loving wife even when I don’t want to. Give me a longing for Your Word that I can be found daily seeking You in Scripture. Daily, Lord! Don’t let me become complacent or forgetful but put the desire in my heart to be at Your feet learning and growing in the knowledge of grace and wisdom. Teach me Father! Open my eyes to the insights and riches of your Word, to understand how to be a wife that honors You. And when I am reminded of all you want me to be, don’t let me suffer long in the discouragement of my sinful flesh. By Your soothing Word show me how it is finished, calm my burdened heart with the unchanging truth of Your vicarious atonement. My heart is Yours Jesus, Not because I give it to you but because You have purchased it. What grace and mercy I have! Accept my love in grateful thanks. Amen.







Building a great marriage

Building a great marriage – Women’s Devotion


“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”
Psalm 127:1-2



God chose the precious gift of marriage to reflect the intimate love He has for us, but like His perfect creation, it is marred by sin. Rather than a reflection of God’s perfect love for His Bride (the church), we often times struggle in our marriages. The pressures of life pull at marriage partners and the demands family life can compound problems even more. So how do you build a marriage that can stand strong against the raging storms that come with a vengeance? It’s like building a house. It’s a long, complicated project that demands time, energy and resources if you want it to be built well. And it’s done best when we listen to the Lord’s encouragement to strengthen our marriages and be on guard against the attacks of Satan and our sinful flesh.

When you enter a beautiful, well-built home, you know that the builder used quality materials and utilized quality workmanship. The trim fits perfectly, the windows aren’t drafty, and the drawers glide smoothly. The foundation feels secure and the rafters are solid. The builder selected high grade lumber and took his time to build it right. So, what does the Lord use in building marriages? Quality materials and quality workmanship.

Quality materials. Did you laugh? Are you thinking about your husband and chuckling at the thought of describing him as “quality material”? You don’t have to be married very long to realize that your husband is far from perfect. But did you think about yourself? Are you “quality material”? No, you aren’t great stuff all the time either. It isn’t any wonder that there are frustrated people in marriages – because we’re all sinful, selfish people by nature. We often get stuck seeing each other with our tainted, human eyes. We see each other’s sins and failures. We see the ugliness and flaws in one another; and if you keep that focus, you won’t have a strong marriage because your building materials are sub-­-standard.

So what’s the solution? Different materials? No, our hope for a good marriage isn’t found in finding the perfect man, or trying harder to be the perfect wife by keeping an immaculate house, pursuing a perfect body shape or maintaining countless commitments at church. Hope is found in the perfect Savior that died for our sins. He is the one that has made us “quality material.” His precious blood was shed to cover your flaws, and your husband’s. His righteous life will stand strong in your stead, and with His eyes, we can see one another as He see us, redeemed children of God.

When you look at your husband, see him as Christ does, precious, purposeful and perfect! And when you look in the mirror, you should see the same thing, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3)!

Equipped with God’s view of our husbands and ourselves we are reminded of and encouraged by His marvelous grace! Treat each other accordingly, with kindness and love; speak to one another with that focus in mind, with gentleness and respect. Forgive each other and be patient with one another because you are handling priceless building materials! As you’re working to build your marriage, appreciate the value of what you’re working with, remembering that “you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). You don’t trash a beautiful, well built home; you take care of it and appreciate it. You invest in the upkeep and make the sacrifices to keep it strong because you value it and know it will appreciate over time. How much more can that be true of your marriage! Because Christ loved us first, we love and forgive one another. Because Christ made us holy and beautiful, we can respond in love toward Him and one another. Because we depend on the righteousness He won for us, we can also see our husbands as redeemed and precious! Keeping that view of your spouse will go a long way in building a great marriage.



Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have redeemed me and made me Your precious daughter. Thank you for your gifts of grace, forgiveness and perfect love. Allow me to bask in those gifts and let them permeate every part of my life. Strengthen me through Your Word to be the wife you desire me to be, that I could honor you in my life and marriage. Strengthen our marriage to be a reflection of Your perfect love—the radiance of grace and commitment that you have shown to us. Give me Your eyes to see others as precious souls for which you died; and give me Your heart to love in response to the intimate love you have poured out on me. Forgive me when I fail Lord. In my stumbling and sin call me to account and drive me to the cross. Find me there, comfort me with your salvation and guide me on the path of righteousness so that everything I do brings glory to Your name and light to a dark world. You are my Savior and my God, whom I love and proclaim. Amen.







Blessing filled future

Blessing filled future – Women’s Devotion




It has happened once again. I received an e-mail promising a miracle if I copy and paste said e-mail to many friends within a certain time period. Like a magic wand, my computer will allegedly bestow great things on me after I jump through tiny messaging hoops, engaging friends in this pyramid assurance of a blessing-filled future.

I am blessed with many well-­-meaning friends who do want the very best for me, and I thank God for them! Many of them are Christians who desire the same thing I do: God’s best for themselves and others. Sadly, though, we all at times fall prey to looking for God’s “best” in the wrong places. When we are tempted to seek life’s best this side of heaven, Jesus’ words remind us:

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Setting our hearts and minds on the things our Creator designed for us will ALWAYS be a better way to seek what is best. Even when enduring troubles, take heart! Jesus is on your side! By grace, the Father gives us eyes of faith to see that in everything, even our trials, he has our best interests in mind as we seek his will daily, praying and growing through his Word. God’s faithfulness is NOT a virtual promise via e-mail, conditional on something WE must DO, but a rock-solid guaranteed free gift from the Author of the world’s best-seller: the Bible.

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 1: 21-22

What is to come? A promised miracle of eternal life in heaven for all believers! See you there!









Back of an elephant

Back of an elephant – Women’s Devotion




While at a recent conference, a group of pastors was studying 1 Peter 3 and the Lord’s call for all of us to submit to suffering for the sake of the gospel. During their discussion, one of the men who previously had been a missionary in Africa shared this interesting insight. He said, “When the Bantu people of Malawi pray for those who are suffering, they often do not pray for the suffering to be taken away. Instead, they pray ‘MulunguNdi pasteni msana wa njovu.’ This is translated, ‘Oh, God, give me the back of an elephant!’”

Isn’t it interesting that they understand that suffering is a gift from God to help people find him in his love and truth? So they ask for help to be strong under the suffering, before they ask for it to be lifted. Peter gives similar encouragement in 1 Peter 4:19, “Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

When we are suffering, it is beneficial for us to look to heaven with obedient eyes and to trust God as we pray for his help. He does care about us deeply and has many reasons for allowing suffering in our lives. And he loves to hear us ask for his strength to make us prosper under suffering.





By Rev. Don Patterson, Hoy Word, Austin, Texas





A lesson from the ivy plant

A lesson from the ivy plant – Women’s Devotion


“Great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:23



Sitting on a book shelf in our living room I spy two ivy plants. In all the Christmas decorating and rearranging to fit the Christmas tree in, they were set out of the way and forgotten. I can’t remember when they were last watered. Yet they continue to live. They truly are hardy plants!

Did you know plants and flowers can “speak”? Anyone can tell you that giving a red rose to someone means love. Did you know that forget-me-nots say “true love”? Flowering almond means “hope,” spring crocus stands for “youthful gladness” and baby’s breath means “pure of heart.” In the language of flowers and plants, the ivy says “faithfulness.”

My ivy plants came from a tendril of ivy from my bridal bouquet twelve years ago. I got the idea from a college friend who explained the meaning behind the ivy plant. What a wonderful reminder for a couple promising to stay faithful to each other for as long as they live!

Just as my ivy plant reminds me of the importance of faithfulness in marriage, it also reminds me of my faithful God. Faithfulness simply means keeping your promise. If you say you will do something, you will do it. And that’s God! He always keeps his promises!

Just listen to some of God’s promises for you:

  • God promises he will care for you. (1 Peter 5:7, Romans 8:28)
  • He promises to help you overcome temptations. (1 Cor. 10:13)
  • He promises your sins are forgiven through Jesus. (John 3:16)
  • He promises to be with you always. (Matthew 28:20)
  • He promises to take you to heaven. (John 14:2-3)

There are times I neglect my faith-life. I forget to water my faith with God’s Word. I set my faith on the back shelf as my life gets full of school, family, and work activities that seem so important. I forget to bask in the sunshine of his love and promises, and instead languish in the shadow of my worries and fears. Thankfully, God is faithful, even when I am not! He forgives me, restores me, and helps me to once again grow in his love.

I’m glad God created the ivy, a plant I can grow (and not kill) even when I unintentionally neglect it, because it always serves as a reminder to me of his faithfulness. “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations”. (Psalm 100:5) That’s a reminder I love hearing every day!



Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for always loving me. Thank you most of all for sending Jesus, the Savior you promised, to save me from sin. Help me be faithful to you all the days of my life. Amen.



Written by Katrina Brohn
Reviewed by President Emeritus David Valleskey