Have you ever taken the time to look at your hands? I recently spent a few minutes examining my hands and realized that they are not as attractive as they once were. Now they are worn and beaten, blemished by arthritic bumps, age spots, and one tricky finger that struggles to bend. But God takes these battered hands and turns them into hands of love. By his guidance and example, my hands become his earthly hands of service. My hands and your hands serve the Lord as we cuddle an infant, assist the homeless, hug a stranger, wipe away a tear, or offer prayers of supplication. Our hands become a unique and special way to glorify and honor our God.

As we serve the Lord with our hands, God holds our lives in His hands. The Bible study Celebrating Life as the Handiwork of God, featured in the 2019 summer edition of the Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly, highlights the message that our lives are created, guided, redeemed, and preserved by God’s loving hands.

Jeanne Schimmelmann
LWML Ohio District President
2016–2020

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Finish the sentence, “To me, God’s love is…”. This is the February 2019 icebreaker idea you will find in the program helps provided by the LWML Christian Life Committee. Along with the icebreaker, you can find 3 devotions, “Joy in God’s Love,” “Begin with God… So We Can Love Others,” and “Abounding in Love.” A sketch is available, “Overflowing Love,” Bible Study from the Quarterly, and Mission Servants Project of encouraging your pastor(s) by making valentine cards with heart-felt expressions of appreciation for the love of God that he shares. If you have other church workers; DCEs, teachers, secretary, etc… this can be done for them as well.

Go to the LWML.org website and find the “Program Helps” under The Word. You will find resources there for each month of the year. The planning is done for you. All that is left is for you to tweak it for your needs and use them.

What a blessing these resources are! We give God thanks for the ladies who put their time into providing them!

Now as you gather to share God’s love, no matter how big or small your group, thank God for the ladies who are present and ask Him to guide in your study and service.

To God be all honor and praise!

Lisa Asmus
LWML South Dakota District President
2016–2020

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Many will ask today, “Where you were on 9/11?”

And we will remember and share our stories.

I sew with a group of teachers, the Apple Patch Quilters. We present quilts to those in need of a caring touch — those who have a major illness or who have lost a loved one, and more quilts for those special, joyful occasions.

We recently completed a Quilt of Valor^® to present to a veteran who fought overseas following 9/11. It is our small way to say, “Thank You!” and to let him know that we remember his service to our nation.

LWML Women in Mission can also remember those who have served or are currently serving in the military. Send a card or a care package, listen to their stories, honor their service with a donation to the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces (Mission Grant #3), and finally, remember to praise and thank God for their service and for their safe return home.

Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you (Deuteronomy 32:7).

Brenda Piester
LWML Kansas District President
2016–2020

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As I flew to Anchorage at the end of June, I engaged in prayer asking if continuing to go to Alaska to lead a VBS was God’s plan. You see, this was my seventh trip, but the last three years had shown quite a decrease in attendance. I was wondering if I was heeding God’s leading or if I was just going to Alaska to see the friends I have made and to enjoy the God’s beautiful creation and cooler weather.

God wants us to bring our concerns to Him. He told us. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6).

Attendance had not been my first concern in leading this VBS. In February I was down to 2 committed volunteers to go, and needed at least 3 more. As I prayed about that I suddenly had a total of 8 volunteers, two from just an hour away from the site.

God does hear our pleas. He knew we needed more than 5 volunteers. On the first Monday of VBS, 19 children showed up excited to participate. That was 3 times the attendance of last year! Then on Tuesday 23 showed up, and as the week continued we had 25.  The kids were excited and asked important questions. On Thursday a boy asked how many more days we had and the disappointment was obvious when I said, “Tomorrow is our last day.”  His response was, “We can just come Saturday, too, can’t we?”

My quote for our week in Ninilchik is, “God showered us literally and figuratively with blessings over and over!”

It is easy to focus on the numbers in attendance at LWML events rather than focusing on the blessings. 

Take your concerns to our Lord. He wants to shower us with blessings — and share those blessings with your LWML sisters.

Dianna Just
LWML Oklahoma District President
2016–2020

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But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8).

I was always terrified to speak in public.  When I learned that I couldn’t get my college degree without a speech class, I almost gave up.  The Potter had other plans for me.  I took speech, prayed for courage and graduated! The Potter used this class to mold me.

I attended an LWML meeting.  I watched women working joyfully in ministry.  They welcomed and encouraged me to use my voice to proclaim God’s love for all. Guided by the Potter and surrounded by encouraging LWML women, I found joy in serving the Lord and using my voice to share the news of His love for us! 

Bonnie Karch
LWML Pacific Southwest District President
2016–2020

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Thanksgiving?

Is Thanksgiving a day on the calendar or a way of life? This year the Thanksgiving holiday will take on a different look or feel for all of us.  With all of the disastrous fires in the northern and western part of the U.S., the terrible hurricanes from Texas, the southern coast of the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and the awful tragedy in Las Vegas this Thanksgiving will have a new meaning.  The LWML motto of “Serve the Lord with Gladness” certainly holds true for those who can help. We of the LWML and the church will not be the only people that can provide aid to those who are suffering, but through us they will be seeing Jesus with skin on.   The help can take all forms but we know that our Lord is with us at all times and through all circumstances.

Praise and Thanksgiving to God! 

Ann Carrick
Iowa West District President
2014–2018

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As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace … in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:10, 11b).

October is a month of remembrance. We have celebrated LWML Sunday. We will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in a few days! Lutheran Women in Mission, in its mission statement, in its vision statement, and in one of its primary focuses for the biennium, encourages women to use their God-given gifts in God’s service. Let us always remember that each one of us have gifts given by God to use to glorify Him. As you use your gifts to serve the Lord, remind and encourage others to do the same.

Marie Chow
LWML Washington-Alaska District President
2014–2018

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