Let's Pray… Help Me Be a Good Listener The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). Merciful Lord, help me to be a good listener! I am so easily distracted by a world that is so full of noise and senseless chatter. Sometimes in all the noise I close my ears and fail to hear You speaking to my heart. Lord, help me to tune out all that is around me so that I can clearly hear Your voice and listen like Your servant Samuel. Calm the stormy seas in my life and give me Your peace. I am thankful that You always hear and listen to me. Help me, Lord, always to be willing to listen attentively to my family and friends when they speak to me. Help them also to hear Your voice, the voice of the Good Shepherd. In Your precious name. Amen.
Grandma’s B LO G Grandma has a quiz for you! Answer “True” or “False:” “The sun isn’t shining today.” Your answer will probably depend on the condition of the sky. Actually, the answer is the same, whether the skies are cloudy or clear: “False!” As you look out your window, you may disagree with that! But think: just because it’s a cloudy day, does that stop the sun from shining? It shines continuously — 24/7/365 — even though it’s hard to see when clouds get in the way. Isn’t that just like our “Son,” Jesus? I remember you telling me that you received a failing grade on your math exam yesterday and were cut from the soccer team. At these moments, just like when your best friend was injured in an accident, you may have trouble seeing Jesus, our Sunshine. Clouds are in the way. But knowing that the sun continues to shine whether or not we can see it, we also know that Jesus is still there for us, shining love into our lives. The hot, brilliant sun is so powerful that even in the midst of a thunderstorm some light still gets through those thick clouds, letting us know that the sun is still there. Likewise, on our darkest, most troubling days, we can look up to the mighty Lord through prayer, be inspired by reading the Bible, and see God’s love through the support of Christian friends. We can still see Him through our troubles and know that He is there to shine His warmth on us, because we belong to HIM! Is the sun/Son shining in your life today, my dear grandchild? Will He be shining during tomorrow’s clouds? With great confidence and trust, we can say, “Yes!” Let the light of Your face shine upon us, O Lord. Psalm 4:6 FALL 2009
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LUTHERAN WOMAN’S QUARTERLY