Finding God’s Peace

Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations are swiftly approaching. You might have added Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas church services, choir rehearsals, Christmas pageants, etc. Some people will be cooking, decorating, and shopping, while others may have added working hours and some may be dreading the financial stress of the season. Family and social gatherings could cause calendars to overflow with too many events also causing stress to blot out the joy of the season.

How can we maintain a sense of peace while we, at the same time, enjoy the holidays?

Nestled in the Winter 2025 edition of the Lutheran Women’s Quarterly you will find “Not the World’s Peace,” a Bible study to guide us toward the true peace only found in Christ Jesus.

Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you (John 14:27a).

Work through this study. Let God’s precious Word refill your joy. Be encouraged to know how deeply you are loved and let His Word help you navigate the months ahead.

Linda Guteres

Vice President of Communication
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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National Candy Day

November 4 is National Candy Day. It brought to my mind a funny event in LWML history. In 2017, Lutheran Women in Mission commissioned chocolate candies with LWML embossed on them. When we received them, the letters were actually LSWL. I guess the proofreader missed that faux pas.

Due to sin, mistakes are made in this world. Perfection is not possible this side of heaven. Praise Jesus that He has covered our sin with His precious life, death, and resurrection. When we are forgiven by faith in Him, not only does He not see the mistakes in our lives, He uses us to tell others about Him. In the 2023 Spring Quarterly, we are reminded that “ God has Chosen Us for a Purpose.” Why not dig into His Word and learn how He will use you even if you are not a good proofreader?

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

Cheryl Mattil

Strategic Plan Facilitator
Lutheran Women in Mission

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Faith Like a Mustard Seed

“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20b).

And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you” (Luke 17:6).

Jesus told how that tiniest of seeds grows into a huge tree. That planting of the tiniest seed of faith can assist in spreading His love and grace. It is no wonder the LWML ladies so long ago, in 1971, chose the name Mustard Seed Devotions. These devotions are specifically designed to grow our faith and inspire us to share the Gospel with others.

Today, these Mustard Seed Devotions are available through email. New Mustard Seed Devotions are being added into the daily and seasonal rotation. Sign up for these daily devotions by clicking the link below.

Email sign-up — Lutheran Women's Missionary League

Leslie Colligan

Meeting Manager
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Jesus — Our Better Friend

“But I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:15b–16a).

My best friend and I have known each other for decades. We laugh together, cry together, try to solve problems together, listen to each other, and pray for one another.

We all have an even better friend — Jesus. A litany on “Our Best Friend, Jesus” is on pages 325–326 in the current LWML Planner. The 2025–2027 planner is easy to download — go to the LWML webpage and search for “Planner” or use this link: Seek, Pray, Serve. Within the planner are many wonderful resources, many written by Lutheran Women in Mission friends.

While we appreciate our earthly friends, what a joy and comfort to know we have an even better friend in Jesus.

Arlene Naasz

Vice President of Organizational Resources
Lutheran Women in Mission

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What is Interdepartmental??

Interdepartmental (ID) is held in October following an LWML convention. New LWML committee assignments were determined by the LWML President and the Board of Directors. These assignments were made after much prayer by both the potential committee members and the Board, as God-given gifts are offered and accepted.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit … and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone (1 Corinthians 12:4, 6).

The preparations are well underway for an uplifting and productive meeting. Committees will be developing their plans and learning how they contribute to the ministry and mission of the LWML, with the goal of integrating our LWML mission statement into each program they propose.

Please keep Interdepartmental and Board of Directors Meetings in your prayers for the week of October 22. Perhaps next time, you would pray about and complete the Personnel Resource Profile (PRP) of your God-given gifts for short-term or committee assignments.

Nila Rodriguez

Treasurer
Lutheran Women in Mission

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God’s Plan

I definitely like to be organized, so I make a list of tasks to accomplish. Of course, I am a “check-off the list” kind of person and feel good when I have finished the list!

Recently, my devotional readings have centered on being in tune with God’s plan and His timing.

The Greek words for time: Chronos and Kairos help us understand our time.

This is Chronos time: tasks — digging a hole and digging ourselves out. Chronos time is the time of our own agendas … making our to-do lists and setting our minds on doing them with no interruptions.

Kairos is about rhythm — about God's time, God's timing, God's timetable. The gentle rolling hills of God's time. God's time — a rhythm of His setting. It is God's rhythm of life. God's agenda.

The devotion, God’s Plan for One Ordinary Woman, reminds us of following God’s plan that leads to a full life.

Karol Selle

Vice President of Special Focus Ministries
Lutheran Women in Mission

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Care for Widows

In the past month I attended two funerals for men in our congregation and mourned with their widows. I noticed how many other widows we have in our congregation. So many of my friends are experiencing widowhood now. What can I do to encourage and support them? In the LWML SHOP we have two devotional books for widows: Life After … Devotions for Widows and Life Continues on … Devotions for Widows. These devotions were written by widows for widows and are wonderful resources for widows and the people who care for them. They make great gifts and are good resources for pastors and caregivers.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:4).

Debbie Yocky

Public Relations Director
Lutheran Women in Mission

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