I remembered yesterday that I had written a blog about the LWML a few years ago and I remembered that I used the words from Ecclesiastes 1 and they seemed strangely apropos back then because it was after some tragedy There is something truly chaotic about our life together these days. Everyday there seems to be some tragedy or crazy event and the light seems dimmer all the time. Even one of the house wives of Atlanta said that “there seems to be a cloud hanging over everything”. The endless polls taken in the country show that people are nervous and anxious and a little depressed about the future.
In a world that truly seems unhinged there is a steady operation that seems to go on and never falter. If it seems to be lacking one year it makes up for it the next. That seems like a pretty big statement and it is. The LWML as long as I can remember has been collecting their “mites” – boxes that are filled with change that are turned in at the unit meetings and sent to national and districts for grants to various mission projects This was announced this week.
The LWML has surpassed their mite goal of 1.8 million dollars as of April 9 and still have a couple of months before their convention so keep those mites coming in. Once again this is pretty amazing stuff and of course we thank God. He gives us what we need and we give it back to him in the way we help others.
Pastor,
Our State LWML had a workshop yesterday on a very unattractive topic. One we wish we were not having. That of Human Trafficking. We had speakers s/a Rebekah Grimm a social worker who has taken this on as her field of study. Then we had Dawnya Underwood who is the assistant director of Children’s Services in Lutheran Immigration and refuge Services. She also spoke on the problem on a more global scale. Rev Dr Banek gave a very excellent Bible study and this event was well attended.
I have to admit I’d have rather spent time outside on such a glorious spring day. This is not a topic we’d like to even want to think about but it is here and tragically every two minutes a child somewhere world wide is sold into this trade.
Just when you think we have hit the all time low, something else comes to the surface that once again tells us we are sinking fast. I spent one afternoon this week IN LOVE telling a nephew why I would not bake two cakes for a gay marriage and got called a bigot and a hater. You can speak the truth loudly in love calling the sin for what it is, carefully separating sin from sinner but still you are said to hate. He asked if a gay couple came to my door needing water to drink if I would turn them away and I said absolutely not, but I am not baking a cake. Now I am wondering if forced to bake the cake (as the courts are now giving rights of religious freedom to all but we Christians who find it against God’s ordained plan for procreation) I may indeed bake the cake but put appropriate Bible verses on it about marriage as God instituted it to be. Better yet,and with the verses, let them know the money for the cake is going to support legislation banning gay marriage, all the while smiling and showing God’s love.
Why are we forced to stand up daily for our faith and for God’s Word? The hour is late and yes the world is getting darker. Satan loves the dark. But thanks be to God, Christ is risen indeed just as He said!
Thanks for bringing the LWML the attention it needs. It is many gals who give up a Starbuck’s coffee (getting easier all the time)to put the money we saved in a mite box, gals who put change gotten back from a Big Mac (doesn’t happen often either) and putting that loose change in the box. Little things we don’t even think that count being multiplied over and over again to become something great and saving lives for Christ. Thanks be to God!
Betty M