Christmas and Valentine’s Day gift-giving focuses on exchanges between friends and relatives. The quiet time between these two holidays provides an opportunity to reflect on other kinds of gifts. We can appreciate the gifts our Lord gives us, such as the sacrifice of His life, His death, and His resurrection, as well as His gifts of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.

In addition, we can thank God that He created us with unique gifts, talents, and abilities. We pray that He will enable us to use them to His glory!

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies — in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:10-11a).

Learn more about what Scripture tells us concerning gifts by reading the LWML devotion, "Maybe Your Gift Is..." May your God-given gifts be a blessing to many in 2021 and beyond!.

Linda Koeller

LWML Christian Resources Editors Committee
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).

The above was my father’s favorite Bible passage. Dad quoted the verse frequently; it was read at his funeral. Often when facing a difficult situation, I remember my dad saying this verse. More importantly, our heavenly Father uses these words to remind us that no matter what happens, He is always with us.

What Bible verses come to you when problems assail you? God’s Word is a source of reassurance of our redemption and His strength. As LWML members, we strive to share that saving knowledge with others. Our LWML Mission Grants help to spread the Gospel message far and wide.

Check the Mission Grants section under the Mission tab to learn more about the impact your mites make. May God bless our grants so that many learn of Him and how His Word is a comfort in all situations.

Arlene Naasz

Meeting Manager
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) Mission Grants Selection Committee has just completed their recommendations of mission grant proposals for the 2021 LWML Convention ballot. The committee received 67 proposals for consideration, totaling $5,214,381. This recommendation will now be sent to the LWML Board of Directors and then to the LWML Presidents Assembly for their approval. Upon approval, this list of proposed grants will be shared with all women of the LWML and the grants will be voted on by the convention delegation.

Having served on this committee in the past, I appreciate the challenge of the vetting process. Yet, I’m certain the committee members were filled with joy seeing so many proposals showing God’s mercy and bringing the Gospel to the lost. This whole process is covered in prayer.

It’s a privilege to remember who we are — Lutheran Women in Mission. On this website, read about the current biennium’s grants. Continue to pray for all our mission grants as you donate mite offerings to support these opportunities to share God’s love. … You will be my witnesses … (Acts 1:8).

Susan Donnelly

Public Relations Director 
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When it comes to the new year, does the above verse come to mind? It does to me, especially now, since 2020 was an interesting year! However, that is now in the past and we look forward to the new year of 2021. The verse above also reminds us that our old self is gone and we have a new self in Jesus. What a great reminder!

Check out one of the LWML Bible studies, We Begin Anew, that you can do yourself or study with friends or family. This Bible study has you looking back and also has you thinking about how to approach this new year.

Happy and blessed new year to you!

Marie Chow

Vice President of Organizational Resources
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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It’s Not Over Yet!

Arise, shine, for your light has come (Isaiah 60:1a).

For some, the week after Christmas is one of the most depressing weeks of the year. It doesn’t take long for Christmas trees to find their way to the curb, lights on houses to disappear, and for the red and green of Christmas in the stores to yield to the red and pink of Valentine’s Day.

Yet, there are 12 days of Christmas. The celebration of the birth of our Lord continues. While many people are happy for the “Christmas rush” to be over, the Church still boldly proclaims, “Christ, the Savior, is born for us!”

To keep the Christmas season from fading away too quickly, there are a number of wonderful winter resources which include Bible studies, crafts, and service projects on the LWML website. These can help you observe the 12 holy days of Christmas and continue to bear witness to the Light that has come in to our darkened world.

It’s not over yet! Merry Christmas! Christ is born for you!!

Rev. Brian Noack

Junior Pastoral Counselor
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger (Luke 2:7a). What do you think of when you hear those words? Christmas? The birth of the Christ Child? Your salvation?

You would be right about all of those things. Yet, there are many people who do not know Jesus as their Savior. Those words are as foreign to them as Shakespeare’s words might be to you. This is why the LWML continues to support the work of missionaries through grants, so that others might become just as familiar with the Christmas story as you are.

I think about the children who will be impacted with LWML Mission Grant #9, Wind River Indian Reservation Transportation at Fort Washakie in Wyoming. The children of the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes need to hear about the birth of the Christ Child so that they, too, can rejoice that their Savior is born. Yes, the Savior is born, and that message continues to be shared through the LWML.

Merry Christmas!

Rev. Mitchel Schuessler

Senior Pastoral Counselor
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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It’s the week before Christmas — do you have all your Christmas gifts purchased? Pressure.

I marvel at people who have the best ideas when it comes to gift giving. I struggle trying to find the “perfect” gift that will be enjoyed, needed, or accepted.

But all the stress I place on finding the “perfect” gift is inconsequential. The Perfect Gift was born in Bethlehem, lived in Judea, was crucified for my sins, and rose from the dead to bring me new life with Him in heaven. God didn’t feel “pressure” when it came to giving us the Perfect Gift. He knew this was the only way to bring life and salvation to a fallen world.

During this last week before Christmas, take a minute to go to the LWML website and read God’s Perfect Gift in your personal devotion time. Allow the words to remove any pressure you feel. Trust that the most perfect gift came into the world over 2000 years ago and is still the Perfect Gift — Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

Deaconess Betty Knapp

Vice President of Special Focus Ministries
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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