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In the Word

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Of the Word

Until 2003 the Bible was the most widely distributed book. What took its place?
The IKEA Catalog

In 2003, 25 million Bibles were distributed, compared to 145 million copies of the IKEA catalog. The purpose of the IKEA catalog is to sell products. The pictures are appealing, the prices are competitive, and some items even come with guarantees. Yet one thing is certain: the catalog was printed and distributed to make a profit for the company.

God’s true Word, the Bible, is made available so that people can learn about God’s free gift. This gift of salvation comes GRACEfully gift wrapped from Jesus Christ Himself. It guarantees eternal happiness in heaven.

You can trust that guarantee because God Himself gives it. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Want to read more? Open your Bible for God’s messages of peace, love, and hope.

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word and its message of grace. Thank You for Your guarantee of salvation through faith in Jesus. In His name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Simple Trust. Elaine Bickel, author. 11/29 ©2011 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Nail Marks

In the Word

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Of the Word

What do one third of Americans do?
They bite their fingernails.

Most people do not like admitting it. Some people can’t deny it because their nails are obviously chewed. The biters may have even tried to break the habit. They know it spreads germs and does nothing for the appearance of their nails, but they still bite their nails. Most say they do this when they are frustrated or nervous. Isn’t there a better solution? Of course there is!

There is no comfort to be found in our own nails, but there is great comfort to be found in the nails that went through our Savior’s hands and feet. We remember how very much He loved us then and how very much He loves us still. He created us, He died for us, and He lives in us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Now that is something worth chewing on!

Walking with my Lord

Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me so much that You died for me. Help me live my life for You. In Your name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Simple Trust. Elaine Bickel, author. 10/29 ©2011 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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I Know that My Redeemer Lives

In the Word

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes — I, and not another” (Job 19:25–27a).

Of the Word

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever–living head.

Inspired by words in Job 19, this Easter hymn reminds us that Christ has risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Christ lives to bless us with His love, to forgive us, to guide us, to calm us, to wipe away our tears, and to silence our fears. In other words, our Savior, who died for us to release us from the stranglehold of sin, is alive and with us in every aspect of life. What a wonder … what a joy!

“He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Jesus, still the same; Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!”

Walking with my Lord

Living Redeemer, what joy the Good News of Your resurrection brings to me! Live on mightily in my heart and life so I may daily praise all You have done. In Your life-giving name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Joyful, Joyful. Rev. Larry and Shari Miller, authors. 9/31. Hymn Text: LSB 461. ©2011  Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
All hymns are public domain with the text reprinted from Lutheran Service Book, ©2006, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.

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I am Jesus’ Little Lamb

In the Word

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11).

Of the Word

I am Jesus’ little lamb, Ever glad at heart I am;
For my Shepherd gently guides me,
Knows my need and well provides me,
Loves me ev’ry day the same, Even calls me by my name.

No matter our age, the opening words to this child-like hymn, based loosely on the words of Psalm 23, remind us that Jesus called Himself the good shepherd (John 10:11a).

Our Shepherd assures us we belong to Him and He “Even calls me by my name.” He provides for His sheep and gives us the greatest gift of all: His life, so that we may be forgiven. He then rose again, so that we, His little lambs, will have eternal life with Him in heaven.

Because we are joyful to have a Good Shepherd, we sing along with the hymn writer: “Who so happy as I am, Even now the Shepherd’s lamb? And when my short life is ended, By His angel host attended, He shall fold me to His breast, There within His arms to rest.”

Walking with my Lord

Shepherd of all Your little lambs, hold me and mine close to Your heart. Protect us and gently guide us to Your pleasant pastures. In Your watchful name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Joyful, Joyful. Rev. Larry and Shari Miller, authors. 8/31. Hymn Text: LSB 740. ©2011  Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
All hymns are public domain with the text reprinted from Lutheran Service Book, ©2006, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.

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Holy, Holy

In the Word

Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: … And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:2a, 3).

Of the Word

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

The mystery of the Holy Trinity, the Triune God, or One God in Three Persons is just that — a mystery! We by faith believe that God the Father is our Creator, the Son is our Redeemer from sin, and the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier that keeps us in the one true faith. What an amazing God we have!

“Holy, Holy, Holy” is the three-fold phrase sung again and again in this hymn. It is an awesome hymn devoted to an awesome God, the “Lord God Almighty”! We celebrate and praise God the Father who is for us, the Son who is with us, and the Spirit who is within us — “God in three persons, blessed Trinity!”

Walking with my Lord

Lord God Almighty, may I always live in awe of Your majestic power working within me. May my lips always sing praises unto You. I pray in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Joyful, Joyful. Rev. Larry and Shari Miller, authors. 7/31. Hymn Text: LSB 507. ©2011  Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
All hymns are public domain with the text reprinted from Lutheran Service Book, ©2006, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.

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How, Lord … can I stop procrastinating?

In the Word

If you wait for perfect conditions you will never get anything done (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NLT).

Of the Word

Procrastination is a habit that allows us to avoid doing a task or facing a situation or just plain putting something off because we don’t want to deal with it. In the meantime, work goes unfinished and we waste valuable energy thinking about (or worrying over) what it is we still have to do. Martin Luther said, “How soon ‘not now’ becomes ‘never’.”

To break this habit, the question “Why do I procrastinate?” needs to be answered. Is it fear of failure? Laziness? A desire for perfection? Self-doubts? When we look at these answers we realize that none of them are God-pleasing reasons for avoiding what needs to be done.

God does answer this question in His Word: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men … (Colossians 3:23). We can face those put-off tasks by remembering that God is with us and “… nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

Walking with my Lord

Lord, when I have things I must do, give me the determination not to put them off until later. Through Your Holy Spirit working within me, help me let go of the reasons I don’t get things done and instead do all things to Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: How, Lord? Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 9/32 ©2011 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved. 

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How, Lord … can I defeat temptation?

In the Word

Because he [Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2:18).

Of the Word

Temptations come in so many ways that it would take a long, long time to list them all, and even then some would be missed. Whether we consider the temptations small or large, they all lead us away from what God desires for us.

Satan knows our weakest point so he aims directly for it. If he can’t disable us by one method, he’ll try for another. Satan is sly as well as subtle, but in no way can he be stronger than our all-powerful God. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Breaking away from temptation can be achieved when we fill our minds with God’s promise to strengthen us and by remembering the Holy Spirit is great enough to overpower any threat to us.

Walking with my Lord

Jesus my Savior, open my eyes so I will not be blinded by deception for I know only You can lead me out of temptation. Help me change the focus of my thoughts so that I will rely on Your strength instead of my weakness. In Your forgiving name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: How, Lord? Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 8/32 ©2011 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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