Have you ever felt like you were hitting a wall? The mountain in front of you will not move. You cannot climb it; you cannot go around it. 

As we enter Holy Week let us reflect on how Jesus might have felt the last week of His life.
 

As He carried the cross the weight was unbearable. Ever feel like that in your life? Things are “unbearable”?

Do you think Jesus felt like He was hitting a wall? Was the mountain in front of Him too big to climb? Do you remember how He asked the Father to “remove this cup from me” (Luke 22:42) and He sweat drops of blood (v. 44)?

Jesus continued climbing the mountain for you and for me. Despite how “unbearable” the task He continued.

Take time to think about the mountain you are facing this Holy Week. Are you turning it over to God? The mountain will change as you take it to Him in prayer.

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Debbie Weaver
LWML Oregon District President

The professional football season ended on Sunday, February 8, 2026. During the Super Bowl there were many types of warnings to the players, including the calling of fouls, penalty flags, and two-minute warnings.

What does the Bible say about God’s warnings? One specific verse is from Proverbs 11:19–21, NKJV: As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their ways are His delight. Though
they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
 

The Lord lays out his demands clearly. He expects us to be “blameless,” which brings His “delight.” But who can live up to this standard? Christ, and only Christ. The Father “delights” in Jesus. He did what we cannot do. He fulfilled the whole law. Jesus then takes our sins to the cross, and there the Father put them to death. And now, through faith in Jesus (created by the Holy Spirit), we are credited with the keeping of that law. And being found in Christ, we daily “arise to live before God in righteousness and purity” (Small Catechism, Baptism).

Jesus is the ultimate substitute player. He bore our penalty and gave us the victory.

Carol A. Miksad
LWML SELC District President

As I lay in my bed this morning, I could hear the winds howling and thought about
the power of God. He speaks and the winds calm.

Matthew 8:26

And He said to them, “Why are you afraid O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

The wind continued to roar the rest of the day, and I looked the window and the little sparrows were in the driveway eating rocks and not concerned at all about the weather. So, what do we need to be worried about?

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Our Heavenly Father cares and watches over us always. He is with us in times of trouble and times of joy. He is with us in our mission work and sharing of the Gospel. So be like the birds and do not worry.

Cheryl Stensrud
LWML Montana District President

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10–12 NIV).

“Jesus is the Reason for the Season” can often be heard at Christmastime or seen on bumper stickers. During this busy holiday season, the center of our celebrations should be focused on Jesus, not the hustle and bustle of gift giving, Christmas decorating, Santa Claus, and other holiday traditions. It’s important to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas … Jesus came into the world as the ultimate gift of love from God to save us from our sin. 

Check out our LWML website, www.lwml.org, for some great resources, along with Bible studies in our Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly, for keeping our focus on Jesus during this Christmas season, and for all seasons! May you have a blessed Christmas!

Arlene Price
LWML New Jersey District President

One of my favorite things to do at this time of the year is to read Christmas books. I have some books I read every year. Christmas in Harmony by Philip Gulley is a favorite that always makes me smile, and I also try to find a new one to add to my list. It’s a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit.

We prepare in many different ways. We decorate our homes, prepare menus for holiday meals, listen to Christmas hymns and carols, and select our sweater for the office ugly sweater contest. But most of all we prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ through worship, study of the Word, and receiving the Sacraments. We remember, from before the foundation of the world, God planned for our salvation through Jesus, His Son.

For devotions, litanies, and other ideas of how you can prepare for Christmas, take a look at the resources provided at LWML Resources for Advent - Lutheran Women's Missionary League.

Ruth Steele
LWML Michigan District President

Can anyone relate to this? I pour a cup of coffee, get distracted doing things, and the next
thing I know my cup of coffee is very cold! Well, I found a solution! I pour my cup of coffee, sit
down in my favorite chair, open the LWML APP on my phone, play the daily Mustard Seed
Devotion and then open the Bible and listen to a few chapters. While listening and meditating
on God’s Word, I wrap two hands around my cup and sip the hot coffee.

Two hands! As a child I was taught to fold my hands and bow my head before praying. As an
adult I learned those actions do not make for a better prayer, just a less distracted child. As a
child of God, I still need to find ways to be less distracted by my busy life. Be still, and know
that I am God (Psalm 46:10). Taking time to ‘still’ my two hands around a cup and listen to His
Word through the LWML App has been a blessing to me. Maybe it will be for you, too.

Cinda Poppe
Lutheran Women in Mission
South Wisconsin District President

You might remember when a telephone handset had a cord attached to it and you could
easily find it when there was an incoming call. When our son was a little fellow, as soon as
the phone rang, he would sit on the floor below our kitchen wall phone, knowing that I would
be there in a moment to answer the call and he would be getting some attention from me.

In today’s world our portable phone can be anywhere when it rings or vibrates and
sometimes, we can’t find it in time to answer. There’s an app for that — Find My Phone!
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a devotion attached to your wrist on those days that are crazy
busy, something similar to the corded handset? You don’t need an app for that! Visit the
lwml.org website and click on The Word in the menu bar. Select Mustard Seed Devotions to
either read or listen to the daily devotion. You may wish to sign up for the email version — a
reminder to daily connect with our Lord!

Joan Berquist
LWML North Wisconsin District President