March 2004 Welcome, YWR class of 2003 to the newsletter Impressions! A newsletter designed for the present and past YWR! It is the HOPE Committee's prayer that all YWRs will be inspired and encouraged by the articles and featured products. Again, welcome to all YWRs and may Impressions be a blessing to you! Impressions Bible Study Her name is Esther. She was the Jewish wife of a Persian king, the man who was about to be tricked into making an irrevocable, disastrous decision. All Jews would be exterminated... Esther's adoptive father, realizing that she, alone, held the keys to her husband's heart, appealed to her conscience... She broke long-standing protocol, marched into the king's throne room, spoke her mind . . . and rescued the Jews from holocaust... She didn't think, Someone else should be doing this, not me... nor did she ignore the need because of the risk. She was willing to get personally involved, to the point of great sacrifice... What about you? What challenges has God set before you as His young Christian woman? What risks lie before you? What grace is He waiting to pour out on you to meet the situation? What sacrifice are you willing to make for the One who sacrificed His all for you? Read Esther's Bible book, the one that bears her name and see what words, and challenges, and risks and blessings God has for you, His young woman of faith! Someday, by His grace, we might be remembering your name and reading your book! Reverend Larry Miller, Pastoral Counselor LWML All Star Team The motto is Serve the Lord with Gladness. The doing business name is Lutheran Women in Mission. They come to convention in cars, chartered buses, airplanes and maybe even a train. They are all ages from generation to generation. They represent many ethnic backgrounds and cultures. They come to celebrate, to sing, to renew friendships, to make new friends, to worship, to grow in the Word, to hear mission stories and to have fun! The Lutheran Women's Missionary League is represented in two words-to love and to serve! I hope you experienced some of the same inspiration, friendships and images when you attended your first national LWML convention. This commitment, support, love and mission emphasis will be part of the LWML district conventions in 2004. I hope you are planning to attend and even take a few of your friends. To love and to serve is the heart of this organization. Women of all ages in loving response to their Lord are supporting missions with prayers and financial gifts. Love and service shows through the friendships made, the unity of our purpose, and the joy of sharing what God has put in our hearts to do through our hands, voices, gifts and talents. I pray your experience in LWML has led you to new opportunities in service, Christian love and fellowship. I encourage your participation in our LWML ALL STAR TEAM this biennium. As in TEAM we know Together Everyone Accomplishes More and as in STAR we are all Sisters in Christ, Teamed together for missions, Actively praying and serving because we are all Redeemed by His grace. Enjoy serving the Lord with gladness as Lutheran Women in Mission. Linda Reiser, President Lutheran Women's Missionary League YWR Insights... Being a Young Woman Representative for Nebraska District ­ South was a tremendous, unforgettable, rich experience for which I thank God. I took back many things from the convention that I will treasure forever. The speakers were top of the line, the church services were overwhelming (over 3,000 people were communed in not much more than _ hour), and the music by Reverend Dien Ashley Taylor was inspiring- you just had to be there. His music and singing was one of the most uplifting, spiritual experiences I have ever had. God worked through that man's fingers and voice to move a whole room full of more than 4,000 Lutheran women and men to dance. Imagine that ­ Lutherans singing and dancing and waving their hands in the air! Outsiders looking in would have thought for sure we were Southern Baptist! Seriously, now. I had the opportunity of a lifetime. President Gerald Kieshnick was a privilege to listen to. The one thing I learned from him was to be a HUGS person. "Hope with Christ filled hearts, Understand Christ's mission, Grieve for the lost and Share in the hope of Christ." If we become HUGS people with "one mission, one message and one people", we can save the world. That is my message for you today. Become a Christ-centered person. Have Christ displayed in all that you do. Make it your personal mission to talk about Jesus Christ and your church in your everyday talk. The unbelievers and the lost need to look at you and know what it is about you that makes your life so great. They need to be thinking, "What is it about Molly ­ I can't quite put my finger on it". When they listen to you speak, they will have an "AHA" moment. "I finally figured that Molly out. She is always talking about her wonderful and gracious God and what blessings He bestows on her. I'd like to have that kind of outlook on things." If we speak about throwing our worries and burdens at the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ, what wonderful things will happen. Reverend Dr. William Diekelman made this statement, "Live as if God is the Lord of your heart". What are we waiting for? Go home and make it your personal mission to live as if God is the Lord of your heart. LWML is a wonderful group of women where TOGETHER we get things done. Did you know that last year, we did not reach our mite goal! AWWW! Say it with me ­ AWWW. Do you know what we did do? We raised $1.4 million dollars and change to bring the word and hope of Jesus to those who have never heard of him. We put our small change into that little mite box and look what it turned into. That's what we do in LWML. How many of us could have put that much money together all by ourselves and spread it out in the way God wanted it to, to touch that many lives? None of us. But, together, we can make a difference. LCMS First Lady Terry Kieshnick said that "LWML is glowing and flowing in love". She is right. That is very evident by the small change which we set aside. It may seem very small and insignificant to us, but look at what that small change grew to ­ look at what it did ­ look at what God did and does and will do!!! "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." 1 Peter 3:15 What is it that you are going to say when your neighbor asks you, "You look lovely today ­ you have some sort of glow about you. Did you do something with your hair?" (Look for someone in the audience to answer) Tell them, "God loves me! That's why I look so lovely today!" God does great things for us; He loves you, He loves me and in Oklahoma City, it was very evident that He loves Nebraska! Back to back presidents ­ that's better than back to back champions! Molly Dixon, YWR Nebraska South Featured LWML Products Planning an LWML event? Bright Ideas (14223) is an excellent resource for preparing for a wide range of occasions, offering a variety of suggestions, Bible studies, topics, sketches, dramas, devotions and so much more! Do you have a Today's Light Bible or need a new Bible cover? Check out the NEW LWML Bible Cover (24101)! This large sized distinctive purple canvas zippered Bible Cover features an embroidered LWML logo! For more information or to place an order visit the catalog of LWML resources.