A WORD for the Week | Archives 1
1. In Your Hands, Lord by Julie Luetke
At some point in life, our loved ones both friends and family, old and young will be out of our reach. Maybe it is your child on their first day of school. Maybe your mother is wiping a tear as you prepare to go off to college. Have you sent off a friend or family member to fight in a war? We worry about them staying safe...
2. I Want to Change by Janet Gehlhar
I want to be the person God wants me to be. Why is that so hard? I tell myself that today will be different and I won’t continue with my sinful habits and yet that is exactly what I do. I totally get Paul when he writes in Romans 7:19 . . .
3. Just Pay Attention by Julie Luetke
About a year ago a prayer request came to our prayer team. A young couple’s infant twins had died. Recently another prayer request came to the team for the same couple. This time it was in joyful thanksgiving. That very day they were about to adopt an infant son. The Bible verse chosen to go with the prayer was from Psalm 30:5b …weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning...
4. Shrink Down to Size by Christine Wentzel
Many people imagine God as He has every right to be seen—too large for the likes of us mere mortals. Perhaps this is because if we were a god, we’d act too big to bother with any one below our divine station. Our sinful pride wouldn’t have it any other way. But wait! Don’t we already act like this? Our world tells us to not shrink down to size. Don’t live a humble, subservient life. Don’t even think that way. That is how to become a success, a Somebody...
5. A Glory Eclipse by Julie Luetke
I am guessing we have all seen a lunar eclipse. The shining full moon is gradually overtaken by shadow. After a time the shadow covers the entire moon, completely, but only temporarily, hiding the moon's light....
6. A Model of Obedience by Diana Kerr
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Growing up, my mother was always good at nudging me out of my comfort zone. I remember one specific instance as a kid when she sent me up to the counter at McDonald's so I could sheepishly inform them, "Um, my Happy Meal didn't have a toy in it. Could I please still have a toy?" I dreaded those moments, but when Mom pushed, you obeyed..
7. Great Expectations by Karen Maio
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Expectations run high around the holidays--feasting on delicious meals and treats, going to fantastic parties, creating cherished family memories, receiving fabulous presents, attending or participating in awe-inspiring Christmas concerts, and the list goes on...
8. Listen to me! by Christine Wentzel
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One of my first ever devotions written for AW4W spoke about improving our personal ministry by paying attention to what our talents are, what we are particularly good at. Have you been finding yours?...
9. PEER PRESSURE by Christine Wentzel
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Peers say getting high is fun.
PRESSURE
Peer say pre-marital sex is normal.
PRESSURE
Peers say we deserve to have our way.
PRESSURE...
10. Happy Labor Day! by Karen Maio
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This Labor Day weekend, Americans will be savoring every last drop of summer with backyard barbecues, trips to the beach, and hopefully, some time spent in the sun. Hats and sun visors off to the hard work and achievements of the labor movement which have made our country strong and prosperous!...
11. Now, Hold That Thought! by Julie Luetke
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The grossest place I can think of is a pit toilet. The thought of dropping anything of value into it is horrifying. Imagine you have a string of perfect pearls in your pocket. It is a gift to someone you love and honor more than anyone else. You cannot wait to present the pearls. You know this person will be pleased to get them...
12. Do not be afraid - Do not fear by Lori Malnes
I am a person who likes to have all my ducks in a row - I pack early for a trip, I meal plan and make my grocery list accordingly, I like math because I can find an answer, before my kids leave for college or end their visit home, I plan when I'll see them again - I want to know, I need that assurance. When I don't know - when I don't have that assurance - my natural tendency is to worry. And what is worry but fear - fear of the unknown...
13. Do You Need a Doctor? by Carolyn Webb
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As my husband struggled with an autoimmune disease that made him susceptible to bleeding, a nurse said to him, "I'll bet you're tired of living in a bubble." To which he replied, "No. What I'm tired of is everyone telling me how sick I am."...
14. I'm a Child of God! by Talia Spiegelberg
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This past summer my family had the privilege of having my five year old foster sister baptized. She was excited beyond belief and when the day finally came she couldn't control her happiness. After the ceremony, she ran around telling everyone at church, "I'm a child of God! I'm a child of God!" She still loves telling everyone she meets today that she is a child of God...
15. Control. by Tracy Hankwitz
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I don't think I'm a control freak, but I do like being in control to a certain degree. Given my role as a mom, I'm naturally in control of a few things: my family's schedule, curfews, the dinner menu, and what games/TV shows are okay for my kids. As a manager at work, I'm in control of buying and tracking inventory, marketing, and keeping customers happy...
16. The Body of Christ by Cathlyn Wilk
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I love walking into church! In order to enter church through the front door, I walk past some beautiful flowers all arranged so artistically on the church grounds. In the winter, I notice that someone awoke extra early to shovel so that I wouldn’t slip and fall getting into church. Even though I seldom observe the people that did these works out of love, I know they executed them...
17. FAT by Christine Wentzel
This word has been hovering over my head like an umbrella of shame for as long as I can remember. When I wasn't fat, I thought I was. When I am fat, I'm in complete denial. Yeah, I know fat is still there, but I've managed to use that umbrella to protect myself from the elements of human nature...
18. PIL by Carolyn Webb
The other day my husband and I were browsing through the gardening section of the home improvement store. We came upon a product called Preen® that promises to keep your garden weed-free. The product is marketed with the very appealing phrase: Preen works so you don’t have to®. My husband suggested that perhaps this would be a wise purchase for us since I really don’t get around to weeding as often as I should. A weed-free garden without all the work sure does sound wonderful...
19. I Need a Vacation by Carolyn Webb
I need a vacation! I’m sure that at some point in your life you have gotten to the point where you really need to get away from the troubles and stresses in your life. That’s what vacation is all about. Webster’s dictionary defines vacation as “a period of time when one stops working, going to school, etc. in order to rest and have recreation.” My husband and I tend to take slightly opposing views on that definition. He is very much into the recreation aspect of vacation. He likes to go someplace new and pack as much into each day as possible...
20. At the Empty Tomb: Part 1 of 3 by Christine Wentzel
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. Mark 16:9
It’s hard to imagine what life was like for Mary. Anyone on intimate terms with mental illness might be able to glimpse at the chaos going on in her mind and soul. We don’t know how she knew of Jesus, the Nazarene, but it doesn’t matter...
21. At the Empty Tomb: Part 2 of 3 by Christine Wentzel
Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot...
22. At the Empty Tomb: Part 3 of 3 by Christine Wentzel
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” It could be that at this moment Mary is looking directly into His precious eyes so filled with intense love and a desire for her to understand. Jesus, the Word made flesh, breathes one word—her name! Not only does it hold the power to create the universe, but with a gentle breath drives the fog of grief out of her. Once again, in an instant, He heals her pain and she remembers...
23. Do I Have to Follow the Law? by Carolyn Webb
I had a conversation recently that gave me pause. I was discussing legal requirements related to my job when the person with whom I was conversing said "I don't care what the law says. That just gets in the way of getting things done." He went on to use the example of David eating the priest's food in the temple as evidence that it isn't necessary to follow all laws. Does God really say it is ok to ignore some laws just because they get in the way of what we want to accomplish? ...
24. It’s time to Cheer! by Janet Gehlhar
Easter morning is thrilling. We rejoice and sing, “Alleluia” for we are celebrating Jesus’ victory over sin and Satan.
He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. (Luke 24: 6-8) ...
25. The Gift of Lent by Carolyn Webb
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How are you feeling this Lenten season?
Lent, for me had always been a difficult season. It’s such a somber time. For me, it was filled with feelings of guilt that my life should displease God so much that it was necessary for his Son to be punished for what I had done, said, and thought. I felt terrible that all that suffering was caused by me...
