Devotions Archives - Lutheran Women of Australia

Devotion – October 2021

Having three children, there are often disagreements. Cruel words are spoken, feelings (and sometimes bodies) are hurt, and relationships are damaged. These occasions usually occur because of selfish choices. Someone saw something they wanted and so they took it, regardless of whose it was. The cry of “Hey that’s mine!” and “But, I want it!” can often be heard and sometimes a verbal or physical altercation ensues. As adults, we like to think we have a better handle on our selfish behaviour but, in truth, our natural tendency is still to satisfy ourselves first. At its core, this could be sin’s definition. When we focus on ourselves and what we want, we sin. God’s plans and promises are forgotten or ignored, and we go our own way.
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Devotion – September 2021

Keeping it in the Family Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10. Families can be complicated things! Growing up, my family was dad, mum, my sister and me. I feel very blessed to have an amazing family. We enjoyed each other’s company and looked forward to family holidays and special events celebrated together. I knew my family knew me, and …

Devotion – August 2021

Happy, Grumpy, Bashful, Boastful and Doc May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14. When we think of the word “boastful” it has a negative connotation. To boast is to talk excessively about your achievements or possessions. We associate the word with other words like bragging, flaunting, and swaggering. Maybe when you hear the word you …

Devotion – July 2021

Are we There yet? Eternity is a tricky concept to understand or explain. We can think of it as a future possession, something we will attain one day when we leave this earth and join Jesus in heaven. This is certainly the concept presented in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). The gospel of John however doesn’t describe eternity like that. In John 5:24 Jesus says, Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my …

Devotion – June 2021

I’ll be Back! John 14:1–3 (NIV) Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where …

Devotion – May 2021

Work is a Gift What do you do for a living? This is often one of the first questions we ask when meeting someone new. When we are in the final years of school (if not before) we start to think about what we want to do next, and plan how best to prepare for our ‘dream job’. I was very fortunate that I decided at the age of eight I was going to be …

Devotion – April 2021

Everything in Its Time Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 One of my favourite images is that of the “4-season tree”. You may have seen it, but if you haven’t let me describe it to you. The image is of the same tree, but in each of the four seasons of the year. In summer, the tree is full of lush, green leaves, basking in the sunshine. In autumn, the leaves have turned brilliant shades of red, orange and …

Devotion – March 2021

Hand Me Downs Our family was one of girls. My mum was one of two girls, and each of them had two daughters also. This meant lots of laughs and mischief when we all got together, but it also meant we could share clothes. I am the eldest, so the “good” dresses that were purchased for me at Christmas time, and for special occasions, inevitably found their way to my younger sister’s, and cousins’, closets. …

Devotion – February 2021

Making All Things New I saw a photo a few weeks ago. It was of a lady who lived in northern New South Wales. She was a farmer and had taken a photo standing in a paddock on her property. It was a side-by-side shot 12 months apart. The first photo had a background of bright orange. It was of a dust storm that had ripped through her town. Her face had a disgusted look …

Devotion – January 2021

In the midst of the chaos of change, we went to the beach. It was a spontaneous call and we were wildly unprepared. It was barely spring, the sun was setting and we had one towel between us. It was tempting to simply enjoy the changing sky and the chatter of locals in my relatively warm, definitively-dry attire. So tempting. After many moments of deliberation, including multiple toe-checks of the water’s temperature, I was in. …

Devotion – December 2020

Dear Christmas, I hope you look different this year This was my silent prayer in September as I saw the store shelves begin to bear their annual load of Christmas stuff. A singing reindeer, a nativity set, biscuits and tinsel and platters and bonbons. I couldn’t help but feel a little deflated. My pet hate is clutter, and I reserve a particular hostility for Christmas-themed clutter. Take Christmas-themed crockery for example. Why should I store …

Devotion – November 2020

Young people are amazing! This is my very biased opinion based on lived experience, and about a decade of working in youth ministries and programs. This is my opinion based on my daily interactions with children and families in hardship. This is my opinion as I watch my friends’ babies learn, but also teach. This is my opinion based on the brave responses of a generation to the injustices of the world they’re inheriting. Young …