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Faith is … Depending on Our Heavenly Father

In the Word

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing (Psalm 145:16).

Of the Word

Some people take the attitude: “God is too great, too busy, too remote to be interested in me personally.” That might be a complaint; it might be false humility. Either way we should not measure God by our standards nor judge Him by our limitations. He is God and so His eye can be on the sparrow and His mind can number the very hairs of our heads. He does not lose sight of our best interests or neglect our needs. He is vitally interested in what we do with the gift of life.

All things depend on God, our Father. The seeds which the sparrow eats, the food for the fish in the sea, the crops which we harvest, and food we gather into carts at the supermarket all come from His generous hand. Food itself, the strength to gather it, and the ability of our bodies to turn that food into energy and strength are all gifts of His goodness. He is not too great to care about these things.

If our Father were to close His hand or turn His face, there would be no life on this earth. Those who refuse to look to Him or acknowledge their dependence on Him could not live. 

Walking with my Lord

Almighty Father, send Your Spirit upon me in rich measure that I may always depend upon You for all things spiritual and physical. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 16/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Be Ready

In the Word

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect … (1 Peter 3:15).

Of the Word

Over the years I have been blessed to lead workshops in which women learned to share their faith in Christ. To allow people an opportunity to talk with one another, each woman worked with a partner. On one occasion a young woman was without a partner, so she and I became a team. As we talked, I learned that she had come at her grandmother’s invitation. To my surprise she said, “I don’t know this Jesus that you are talking about.”

How wonderful it was to share Jesus’ love with her, telling her what He has done for me throughout my life!

To this day, it is with thanksgiving and joy that I remember the young woman seated next to her grandmother on the last pew of the church. It is my prayer that she has learned to know Jesus and that she is now sharing her faith with others. St. Paul writes to Philemon and his message is the same for us: I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ (Philemon 1:6).

Walking with my Lord

Father, I rejoice with thanksgiving that You have called me to be Your child now and forever. Give me the desire and courage to readily share my faith in You with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living as a Woman in Mission. Author: Ida Mall. 15/32 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

Be Ready — PRINTABLE VERSION

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Faith is … Looking Up and Above

In the Word

I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1–2).

Of the Word

A great deal of wisdom is contained in this poem by an unknown author: If your nose is close to the grindstone rough, And you hold it down there long enough, In time you’ll say there’s no such thing, As brooks that babble or birds that sing. These three will all your world compose: Just you and the stone and your poor nose.

Sometimes we keep our nose so close to the grindstone we see nothing but sparks! A wise doctor advised a patient who was facing a nervous breakdown, “Go away and look at something big!”

Faith is just that. It is looking at the One who is above all and in all and through all. It is looking beyond His wonderful creation and seeing the Creator Himself. The Creator not only made the mountains but also allowed His only Son to die on one of those hills outside Jerusalem.

Faith is looking beyond our present circumstances and seeing something bigger than our problems, bigger than our circumstances. Oh, the blessings of looking up and above!

Walking with my Lord

“My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine. Now hear me while I pray; Take all my guilt away; Oh, let me from this day Be wholly Thine!” In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 9/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
“My Faith Looks Up To Thee” words by Ray Palmer, music by Lowell Mason – Public Domain.

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Faith is … Trusting Without Seeing

In the Word

[Jesus said,] “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29b).

Of the Word

Thomas believed because he saw. Saving faith does not rest upon the evidence of the senses, upon our feelings or even our reason, but solely on the Word of the Gospel. The Word of God brings Christ to us; the Word of God brings us to Christ. As Christians, we believe this.

The resurrection is a reality. We believe this. We need not see Jesus visibly or personally as the early disciples did. Our faith is not some vague dream or wishful thinking. Our confidence rests on the powerful testimony of the Holy Spirit. Can we ask for better assurance or stronger evidence of the reality of our salvation?

Jesus approved the firm confession of Thomas even though he sought some proof of Christ’s resurrection. How much more blessed we are who have not seen Jesus physically and yet believe and trust Him for the forgiveness of our sins and for our eternal salvation.

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord, allow Your Holy Spirit to work in me so that I can believe. Nourish my faith with Your Word until I share in the fullness of Your glory in heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 7/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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The Least of These

In the Word

[Jesus says,] “‘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’” (Matthew 25:35–36).

Of the Word

“‘… whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40b).

Who did Jesus mean by the least of these? When you work at the community pantry, feed the hungry, or bake cookies for vacation Bible school, you are serving the least of these. When you pour cold water for your toddler, aged parent, or nursing home resident, you are serving the least of these. When you donate time and money at the homeless shelter or the pregnancy center, you are serving the least of these.

When you volunteer your time at the local thrift shop or when you make warm quilts for the needy, you are serving the least of these. When you send a card, make a hospital call, or sit with a dying friend, you are serving the least of these. When you mark Bibles for prisoners or pray for those who are incarcerated, you are serving the least of these.

Serving the least of these may be no more than lending a hand, giving a smile, or sharing a burden. The service is a heartfelt response to the love Jesus has poured on us.

Walking with my Lord

Lord, help me to look for opportunities to serve others. Help me to remember that my service is actually a gift to You and a response to the love You have given to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living as a Woman in Mission. Author: Myrna Lou Meyer. 6/32 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Mentor

In the Word

Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life (Proverbs 22:6 GNT).

Of the Word

A mentor is defined as a trusted teacher or wise counselor. For me, being a mentor means to positively encourage someone in even a small way.

Mentoring preteen girls as they move from childhood into Christian womanhood is full of challenges. Sometimes weeks pass and I see little change in attitude or behavior. My warnings of danger go unheeded. When that happens I ask God to help me walk with them through the consequences. I pray that the final outcome will be that the young women will honor God with their bodies and lives.

What benefit is there to investing so deeply in another person’s life? I grow in faith. I learn to lean on Jesus. I learn to trust His Word. I learn to pray constantly. I learn to thank Him again and again! Finally, I can say along with the Apostle John: It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us (2 John 4). 

Walking with my Lord

Thank You for opening my eyes and heart to see the work that You have entrusted to me for the advancement of Your kingdom. Father, I know that apart from You I can do nothing. Strengthen my faith, for in You I trust. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living as a Woman in Mission. Author: Mary Smith. 5/32 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked “GNT” are taken from the GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION – Second Edition, American Bible Society, New York, NY. Copyright © 1992. All rights reserved.

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What Goes Around, Comes Around

In the Word

Love is patient, love is kind. … It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4a, 7).

Of the Word

As my husband and I prepared for an overseas mission trip, an older woman in our congregation gave me her special cross necklace to wear on the trip.

When we returned home, I planned to present her with a gift and also return the necklace. However, with love in her eyes, she told me that the necklace was mine to keep. As time passed, our friendship grew stronger. When her health failed, I spent a good deal of time with her. It was as though I became the daughter that she’d never had.

The story of the precious necklace has been told many times, a witness to the strong friendship that grew from a loving relationship in Christ. My dear friend and I not only remembered Jesus’ words, but lived them: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13: 34–35).

Walking with my Lord

Your love, O Lord, brings depth to my life. May this love be reflected as I reach out to others. May that love continue in an ever-widening circle as I share Your love in all of my relationships. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living as a Woman in Mission. Author: Kathy Ludwig. 4/32 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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