Creating Memories

Recently, my granddaughter Liz came for an overnight visit. As we were visiting that evening, Liz asked me how it is living in my new home after living in a log home for 24 years. She went on to share her memories. She still talks about the golf umbrellas used as tents, protection from the water from the garden hose, and pretend parachutes!

As we sat on my patio late that afternoon, we listened to the birds, watched the clouds, and played the game of what the clouds looked like. We were creating memories for both of us.

Being a grandparent is a privilege and a blessing. Sharing a prayer, celebrating holidays and milestones, and giving and receiving the hugs are treasures for me as the grandmother and for a grandchild.

In the devotion, Grandma’s Building Blocks, based upon these words: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths (Proverbs 3:5–6), you will read a true story about a grandmother, but also a lesson for our lives in any season.

Karol Selle

Vice President of Special Focus Ministries
Lutheran Women in Mission

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National Youth Gathering

The 41st Biennial Lutheran Women in Mission Convention in Omaha was amazing. I loved seeing so many joyful people engaged in Bible study, worship, prayer, and service.

Next week, I will be attending another large event as I represent Lutheran Women in Mission at the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. At our exhibit booth, I will engage with young people from all over the country, listening to their future plans, encouraging them, and providing information and resources about Lutheran Women in Mission.

Our main giveaway will be the LWML Scripture Memory Cards. These are packaged like a deck of cards and each has a Scripture memory verse. Do you want some for your youth group or your own use? They are available in the LWML SHOP. lwml.cph.org/p-35750-memory-verse-cards If you are at the Youth Gathering, stop by the exhibit booth!

Please pray for this event to be a time of encouragement and joy for all who attend.

Debbie Yocky

Public Relations Director
Lutheran Women in Mission

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It’s God’s Plan

Celebrations are awesome! — Birth of a child. — High school graduation. — Winning a race. — A 50th anniversary cruise. — Buying your first house. — An LWML convention.

But what about everyday happenings? At the start of a day does your agenda put a smile on your face or a frown?

What does our Lord say about celebrations or routines?

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand (Proverbs 19:21).

Verse one of a favorite hymn, “With the Lord Begin Your Task,” LSB 869*, shares the truth that our Lord is with us through both exciting and “regular” times when we begin with Him.

With the Lord begin your task; Jesus will direct it.
For His aid and counsel ask; Jesus will perfect it.
Every morn with Jesus rise, And when day is ended,
In His name then close your eyes; Be to Him commended.

Click Begin with God devotion for several Mustard Seed Devotions to begin your day with Jesus. I pray all your days begin with smiles on your faces, giving thanks for both the mountain-top experiences and the “everydays” — all blessings from God.

Char Kroemer

Assistant to the President / Resource Editor
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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From the Convention Mountaintop, Back to the Plains

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7).

The 2025 Growing in God’s Grace Convention is wrapping up! What an incredible, mountaintop experience!

A Bible study — His Love, Our Love — is one of many valuable resources on the LWML website and begins: “Think of a time when there was love all around you. If you have been to an LWML national or district convention, you would have experienced love all around. … The women excitedly told how their love for God was going to be shared through the funding of missions with Mite Boxes.”

The study continues, “We do live in the ‘valley’ of everyday life. But we also have the ‘mountain-top experience’ in our daily lives as we pray, worship, study His Word, partake of the Lord’s Supper, and fellowship with others. Thanks be to God for His love.”

Lutheran Women in Mission, let’s get to work — sharing His love with others as we live here in the plains!

Signing off, your sister in Christ,

Brenda Piester
Recording Secretary (2021–2025)

P.S. Thank you for the privilege of serving you on the Board of Directors for these four years. It has been a labor of love, and I have been blessed through your own work and joyful service!

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, … because of your partnership in the gospel (Philippians 4:3, 5a).

Brenda Piester

Recording Secretary
Lutheran Women in Mission

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Lutheran Women in Mission — Where are you this week?

“Growing in God’s Grace” in Omaha? At convention? If not in person, then in spirit! We gather for business meetings, corporate worship, Bible study, fellowship, service to others, mission speakers, and collecting offerings to support selected ministries. We locate old friends. Establish new friends. We hug, we laugh, we talk, we smile – because we are all here for one purpose – to further the good news Gospel message and to serve the Lord with gladness! We further the Gospel message through the mission grants selected and ministries that we support. We serve the Lord with gladness! with our smiles and encouragement to those who are in turn serving us during this convention.

As we “Grow in God’s Grace” this week, let us also show God’s grace to everyone with whom we come in contact.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (2 Peter 3:18).

Karen Morrison

Vice President of Gospel Outreach
Lutheran Women in Mission

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Grow in God’s Grace

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (2 Peter 3:18).

Are you ready?
Have you completed packing and made your travel reservations to join nearly 4000 Lutheran Women in Mission in Omaha, Nebraska, for the LWML Convention?

Are you ready?
Are you excited to worship, sing, fellowship, hear mission stories and learn from God’s Word?

Are you ready?
Is your heart prepared to “Grow in God’s Grace” as our theme suggests?

The Pre-Convention Devotion, available on the LWML website, is available to help you get ready for our time in Omaha. Here is an excerpt from that devotion:

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ — these words from St. Peter aren’t a directive to believers, either those early Christians or us of the 21st Century church. That would be as fruitless as a farmer standing in his newly planted corn field and commanding his seeds to “grow already, why don’t ya!” When our Lord, through Peter in this verse, tells believers to “grow”, He is saying that the grace and knowledge of Jesus are how spiritual growth comes about. God brings the necessary ingredients to the ‘soil’ of our hearts and minds, so the faith He planted will grow.”

See you in Omaha.
Shine On!

Susan Brunkow

Vice President of Christian Life
Lutheran Women in Mission

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Counting

Most of us enjoy counting the days until a special event — a special birthday, wedding, vacation, retirement, or the birth of a grandchild. You may be counting the days until you travel to Omaha, Nebraska, for the 41st Biennial Convention. I am counting those days too and looking forward to spending time with my sisters in Christ being inspired to dig deeper in God’s Word, being nurtured to share the love of Christ with enthusiasm, and being encouraged to support missions and our mission goal.

Blessings are something we can count, too! I use a jar to accumulate the blessings I jot down on paper. I enjoy going through the jar periodically to remember some of the blessings God bestows. Check out the retreat/workshop resource, Count Your Blessings. There are some wonderful Bible verses and questions for thought in this resource.

As of June 8, 2025, it’s 14 days until I travel to Omaha. It’s a blessing to be able to attend and to serve the Lord!

Kathy Pavelock

Vice President of Communication
Lutheran Women in Mission

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