You gave to us. Now we want to give, too! That’s what the resident
girl students at Saint Paul Lutheran High, Concordia, Missouri,
said as they filled two baskets with canned goods, cereals,
snacks, and other pantry items for Our Redeemer (Hispanic
Mission) Lutheran Church, Kansas City. Earlier in the year, St. Paul’s Ladies Aid 1912 LWML Society, Concordia, had filled those baskets for each floor of the girls’ resident hall. When the girls learned about the LWML society’s ingathering for Our Redeemer, they filled up the same two laundry baskets, hand delivered the items with society president Jon Bacon, and attended the Sunday worship service at Our Redeemer. The girls were excited about Our Redeemer and want to go back soon, Bacon said. Now they’re even talking about having their own ingathering at St. Paul for the Hispanic mission.

Our Readers Ask ...

Teen Talk

Q: I have a friend who is always down on herself. She says she can’t do anything well and doesn’t like to try new things. She always looks so sad. What can I do to help her improve her self-image?
A: Many times teens will compare themselves to peers, parental expectations, and the entertainment arena when developing a self-image. Encourage your friend to use God’s Word as her guide to develop a positive self-image. Share your favorite Bible verses, especially those that show God’s plan of creating us in His image and caring for us all the time, such as Colossians 3:1-14 or Ephesians 2:1-10. Be sensitive when she is trying something new. Use encouraging words to support her. Remember, no one is good at everything. Cheer her on to choose one or two hobbies or skills and practice those (Philippians 4:8-9).

Q: How can I tell my friends about Jesus?
A: There are many ways to share the Good News of Jesus with
your friends: live your life in a God-pleasing way; give Christian
birthday and greeting cards; use items with Christian symbols (pens,
clothing, cups, jewelry, etc.); share moments when God made a difference in your life; pray before meals and at special times; invite them to Bible study, worship, youth activities, and, of course, your Friends Into Serving Him meetings.

Topic: Witnessing

Bible Verse: You are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13a).

Journal Entry: Grandma came over for supper tonight and offered to help with the dishes since it was my turn. She asked me a strange question while washing: Did I think of myself as a missionary when I was with my friends?

I laughed as I thought of this kid at school who was a total “Jesus freak” and made me feel like I wasn’t as Christian as he was. Is that what she wanted me to be like — NOT!

I don’t think Grandma liked my laughing because she told me a story
about Grandpa. She reminded me of the cows that Grandpa had on the farm and how it was important for them to drink enough water to stay healthy. Rather than force the cows to drink water, Grandpa put out a salt block. The cows liked the taste of the salt, and of course, the salt made them thirsty, so they drank water.

Grandma said that being a missionary is kind of like being a salt block. If we live in a Christian way, people will see that and eventually “get thirsty” and want to know why we live that way. Then we can tell them about Jesus without forcing anything on them.

I guess she was trying to tell me that I don’t have to “shove Jesus down people’s throats” or move to another country to be a missionary. Just stand up for what I believe and live in a way that gives honor to God and people will notice.

Prayer: God, thank You for sending people in my life to teach me. Bless the missionaries You have called to foreign countries and right here in the United States. Help me to remember
that I am Your missionary too. Amen.

Questions for consideration: What does the word “missionary” mean to you? Think of a person who has helped you understand God better. Is he or she a missionary?

Paraphrased from Journal Gems: Devotions for Teens, Witnessing. ©2005 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, P.O. Box 411993, St. Louis, MO 63141-1993.

Do you have ideas you want to share? Do you know what LWML teen groups are doing in your district? Please write us and send original or electronic photos to: Gina Franke, LWQ - Teen LWML, P.O. Box 411993, St. Louis, MO 63141-1993 readersrespond@lwml.org