Lutheran Woman's Quarterly
Spring 2024 "Serving Others"
Editor's Note
Last year, my Advent preparations included a time to reflect not only on the miracle birth — God as a Baby — but on other Christmas gifts from God as well.
One of the ways God has gifted me is with music. I have been blessed with a lifetime of sharing His message through singing the praises and the joy of the Lord. For me, this gift of music enables the message to stay in my heart, often longer than the spoken word.
Through quiet time, His gifts of peace and stillness and silence give me time with Him ― time to prepare to serve Him according to His leading.
The gift of goodwill to me and all mankind lets me know that I can share what He has given me — my time to sit with someone lonely, my mite offerings so others can go into His mission field, and my talents as I serve a local mission or go on a mission trip.
His gifts of beautiful things, like that single blooming Rose, point to the gift of delight in the individual pieces He has created. Such gifts bring smiles to our faces and enables us to see the world through His loving eyes.
The gift of the Light of the World brings hope, and hope helps us serve as encouragers to those whose lives are dark — who desperately need the Light. We can share the message of His goodness. Sharing this hope keeps us astir in wonder and praise to our awesome God. It reminds us that His promises are always fulfilled. These gifts, especially the unfathomable gift of Salvation through His Son, lead us to lives of loving and serving others because we love and serve a God who gifts us beyond what we can comprehend or imagine.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace (1 Peter 4:10a).
I encourage you not only to read on to see how others have used their gifts but for you to use your gifts, whatever they may be, in service to the Lord God, our Savior wherever and whenever He has need of them.
Sheila Lutz, Editor-in-Chief
FEATURES
1 | Everything
7 | Empowering People to Serve Their Neighbors
22 | LWML Elected and Appointed Personnel
| Thank You for honoring and sharing the gifts God has given you!
IN EVERY ISSUE
| Editor’s Note
14 | Grants at Work: Forged by Fire or read it online here
15 | 2023–2025 Mission Grants
28 | Shop LWML
29 | President’s Page — Gifted Service
BIBLE STUDIES
available to download and print
16 | Baptized. Equipped. Serving. — Leader Guide
17 | Take My Life — Bible Study
| Take My Life — Leader Guide
18 | Giving & Receiving — Leader Guide
20 | Dando y Recibiendo — Bible Study
| Dando y Recibiendo — Leader Guide
Future Quarterly Themes
Share your story with us at editor@lwml.org
The Lord is Near
FALL 2024 (Submit by 4/1/24)
How do you draw near to the Lord during times of mental anguish? When (or how) have you helped someone through a period of mental brokenness?
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:17–18).
Tell Your Story
WINTER 2024 (Submit by 7/1/24)
What's your story? What has been your journey? How has God answered you?
Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me (Psalm 66:16 NIV).
