Janis McDaniels- Southern Region

Faith Walking in the LWML-

Lutheran Women's Missionary League

I think it’s safe to say my LWML faith walk is pretty much based on my inability to say “no.”

In 1993, I was advised that then president, Ida Mall, was going to ask me to do something, and I dare not say "no." She asked me to serve on the Christian Growth Committee. I didn’t know what that was,  but said “yes,” in a definite leap of faith. I served two terms on the Christian Growth Committee and then was appointed to the Mission Projects Committee.  Learning more and more about LWML, I was also getting to know some terrific women. While attending an Interdepartmental Meeting, I learned that my grandson was stillborn.  Surrounded by love and support from my LWML sisters, they prayed with and for me, and comforted me. I was blessed to be in their company.

My next leap of faith was when I was asked to run for district president. There were two things to take into consideration: was the Carolinas District ready for an African American district president, and my opponent was the daughter of a past district president.  After much prayer and counsel, I allowed my name to stand for nomination.  I won – by two votes. At that time I adopted Philippians 4:13 as my personal verse. ” I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”  During this time our son was killed. An event like that can shake your faith pretty badly. Again, the love and support  from my LWML sisters across the country helped to see me through it. Before my term ended, I was appointed chairman of the Gospel Outreach Committee, so I was doing two jobs for a little over a year. Another “yes” again. When elected to the Nominating committee, I served as chairman.  Feeling unprepared, I went back to Phil. 4:13. This was a good group and work was a joyful experience.

Another “yes”  led to nomination for Vice President of Gospel Outreach, and I was elected. Later that year, my husband had extensive surgery for esophageal cancer, as well post-surgical problems related to his medication. I was a wreck and, again, my LWML sisters and brothers – the pastoral counselors, lifted me up. Later on my husband, Jim, developed a staph infection. I had trouble functioning and thought he was dying. President Kay Kreklau, then LWML recording secretary, counseled me and helped me keep my wits about me. What a blessing!

When nomination came for national president, I didn’t make it to the ballot. I considered a floor nomination request, which I answered with a prayerful “yes.” Though not elected, it was okay.  The Lord  places me where He wants me each time. I’m still active on the Carolinas District board, zone and church society.  A new role as a member of the Concordia College Alabama (Selma) Board of Regents is something entirely new, so I’m leaning heavily on Phil. 4:13.

Whatever is next for me, I do know the Lord is walking with me. At times He will move ahead of me to lead and sometimes get behind and push- to direct where He wants me to go. 

When has a faith community surrounded you in a time of crisis? We'd love to hear about those times of comfort and prayer in your life.

Janis serves with her husband, Jim, at St Luke's Lutheran Church, High Point, North Carolina. We give thanks for her long- time support of the LWML at both local and National level. She gives a powerful witness that a yes to God leads to new areas to grow and learn about how He equips us to serve. Janis can be reached at-  LWMLJanis@aol.com 

Whatever

Philippians 4:8

Meditate on These Things

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
NKJV

Thinking about this word from the Southeastern District Conference - the  worship service-last week in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Lord, let us truly live whatever lives, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to be a witness to the world of Your redeeming gift of grace- Jesus.
In His name we pray, Amen.

Do NOT Enter

Maybe it's just me-  but everytime I see a sign with this-  DO NOT ENTER-

 yup- you guessed it- I want to climb the fence- peek through, open the door-

 Now it might never have crossed my mind-

 until the sign posted told me I could not go there.

It seems like some times when a new chapter in life is about to open -- 

there is a small voice that can yell pretty loudly- Do NOT ENTER.

 The unknown can be very disquieting. 

Too unpredictable.

Boundaries are not squared away yet

 and it feels like a free fall.

But, it is helpful to see a new threshold as a gate.

You can see a few things through the rails, but not so clearly YET.

Whether you are moving through an opening to a new job,

 change in life or work position,

 or simply days that are more challenging right now-

 remember.

 You have the God that wrote the book on TIME and CHANGE 

moving along right beside you.

Not a bad place to be going forward.

So we pray......

Heavenly Father, 

You so graciously do not hesitate when I do. 

You keep my hand held closely and move with strength-

 when I hesitate.

When I desire to know the story's ending,

 you whisper quiet flutters of trust for me to catch and hold closely. 

I give thanks that my footsteps are gentle placements

 on the earth that you hold dearly. 

As you guard my days of breathing into unknown wakings,

 I rest assured and breath deeply.

For you have written my days in your book of LIFE, 

and may my purpose be tender guidings of YOUR Will.

 In the name of Jesus.

Amen.

Your Story Matters

Where have you been?

The other day was visiting with a friend 

and asked her about
 submitting a blog post for Journeys of Faith-

She said, "Nothing great in my life to talk about... 

I haven't done anything important."

We talked a bit more
 and I asked her to reframe her life.....

"What if you tell your story
 in light of what Jesus has done for you? 

Do you think that can
 give you a different perspective?"

We all get caught up in the subtle
 and actually maybe blatant 

 affects of our modern culture--

 that our Life is about ME and what I have done....

The challenge of committed Disciples- 

Followers of Jesus- 

is that we often forget
 just how basic our story is.... 

 and we forget to use our gifts
 and our whole being in telling the main story:

JESUS LOVES ME.

That is the story that attracts others to listen -

 to listen with HOPE.

 To begin to see that there is something different about 

Living Life as a Daughter of the King.

Because Jesus has made all the difference.

Because my feeble attempts
 at making meaning of my life have been futile.

And most all -  
we are encouraged to be prepared.
 Take some time to write out your Story.
So that you are always prepared
 to tell anyone who asks---
What is so special about your life?
And then perhaps YOU
 will be ready to be a witness
 here in this space- 
of all that you have seen and heard.

1 Peter 3:14-15

Through thick and thin,
 keep your hearts at attention,
 in adoration before Christ, your Master. 
Be ready to speak up and tell anyone
 who asks why you’re living the way you are,
 and always with the utmost courtesy.

Sit a spell and give thanks

 for the story you have-

for the story you have to share.

Blessings,
Connie

Gathering in Prayer

Life always has the high points and the valleys.

 Sometimes they follow very closely to one another.

Six weeks ago, Tom and Sandra Becker

 celebrated a beautiful beach wedding

 for their son Tom and his new wife, Janet. 

Within the past two weeks,

 their son Tom was involved in a motorcycle accident in Virginia Beach.

 Tom lost the bottom half of his left leg due to his injuries. 

Tom is currently still in ICU.

In the hours that follow such news,

 there is shock and disbelief and a thousand questions. 

We know and trust that our Lord plants Himself firmly

 in the middle of the messy challenges of life. 

The hard eucharisteo moments. 

When there are no answers and many many questions.

As a community of believers,

 we step forward to boldly ask God's intervention 

at this time 

for healing and recovery- WE PRAY.

In prayer, we have the gift of connecting

 our limited resources to the God of infinite resources.

It moves beyond our wants,

 hopes and needs.

 It is tapping into the supernatural plane of living

 that brings strength that our human endeavors cannot move.

Spend a moment praying this verse

 over Tom and Sandra, and Jeff and Janet.

 Ask the Lord to bring this family His help and comfort.

 Ask for His blessing of safety as they travel many times

 between their home and Virginia Beach in the next month. 

For upcoming surgeries and rehab for Jeff.

 Cover them in prayer.

Rev. Tom and Sandra Becker serve at
 Immanuel Lutheran Church, Preston, MD. 

Other prayer prompts for the Southeastern District

 may be found at:  praying-for-the-southeastern-district

 Just click on the individual prayer cards
 to enlarge to use as a prayer prompt.