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News and Notes
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Some Devotional Thoughts
I put up with it constantly at the seminary, “Oh, you’re that Lamb trying to become a shepherd.” This month Holy Week and Easter reminded us of our Shepherd who became the Lamb. We needed a Shepherd. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6a). Please note the emphatic inclusiveness, “every one.” This leaves no wiggle room for our “yeah buts.” “Yeah, but my sins are not as bad as his sins.” Yes they are. “[E]very one” of us has “gone astray.” We each turn to “his own way.” The way of the Shepherd is too narrow, too demanding, too bland. Satan loves this predatory tactic. Scatter the flock and move in for the kill. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 16:25). Sheep without a shepherd, that’s what Satan loves. Sheep without a shepherd, that’s who Jesus loves. “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). That compassion moved the Shepherd to become the Lamb. “[A]nd the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:6b-7). Did you note the inclusiveness here—“of us all”? This leaves no wiggle room for our “yeah buts.” “Yeah, but not my sins, they’re so many and so terrible.” Yes, your sins, all of them. The Shepherd becomes the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) The Shepherd becomes the sheep—silent before His accusers. I’m told that sheep are usually silent when alone, separated from the flock. Jesus bore our iniquities alone. He bore our sin’s punishment, separated from God, alone in the darkness of our curse. But now the darkness and the curse are gone! The God of peace “brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep …” (Hebrews 13:20). The slaughtered Lamb and the silent Sheep becomes the Shepherd once again. He calls us by name. He gives us His name in the quiet waters of holy Baptism. He leads us in paths of righteousness. He comforts us in our dark valleys. He feeds us with the body and blood of the Lamb restoring our souls even in the presence of our enemies. Because of Him, God’s goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. Because of Him, we will dwell in His house and be His flock forever. The story of a Lamb who became a shepherd is old and insignificant news. The story of the Shepherd who became the Lamb is always new and always the greatest news in the universe! Thank you for your help in applying this great news in the life arena. Thank you for helping us equip the Good Shepherd’s flock with what they need to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life. Thank you for being instruments of the crucified Lamb and the risen Shepherd through which He changes hearts and lives. |
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Resources for Mothers Day The Renewal For Life site has a few articles that may be helpful this Mother’s Day. Articles or text from a bulletin insert can be used in a variety of ways to share the message of life. Here are a few examples:
A Mothers Comfort is taken from a bulletin insert from Lutherans For Life that is no longer in print. Isaiah 66:13a, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” This article is a tribute to mothers and relates the comfort God offers us to that of a Mother’s comfort for her child. A Mother’s Day prayer is also included that touches on thankfulness for Christian mothers and a special prayer for those who are childless or have lost a child. This could be used in a bulletin similar to Life Quotes or Life Thoughts. You can find this article in the Family Living/Essays and Articles section.
The Heart of a Mother is also taken from a bulletin insert that is no longer available. “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” Luke 2:19. A mother’s heart needs the treasure of Christ’s love. A Mothers Prayer is also included in this article. You can find this article in the Sexual Family Living/Essays and Articles section.
The Look and Behavior of Love, is an article written by Linda Bartlett. This article is a great teaching tool for young ladies to prepare them as they may someday be a wife and mother. As we enter into Mother’s Day, this would be an opportune time to share the message of sexual purity based on God’s word, with the female youth in your congregation. This could be grafted into a Bible study or shared as an article. You can find this article in the Sexual Purity/Essay’s and Articles section of the Renewal For Life site.
Ribbons For Moms Project: A service event you could implement this Mothers Day is the “Ribbons for Moms Project.” LFL of Kansas and the Johnson County chapter shared this project that has been a great success in their congregations. The purpose of this project is to collect baby and maternity items, and also, for those who wish to honor a special “mother” for Mother’s Day with their gift. To see more details go to the Renewal For Life Home page/Quick links section/Directions/Directions Spring 2009/Faith in Action section. |
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FORUM |
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| New Spanish Resources Two new Spanish resources are now available for young people: Amor Real-Vida Real (“Real Love-Real Life”) Sugerencias para los jóvenes de cómo decir “No” (Tips For Teens on How to Say “No”)
Also newly published is Christ and Adoption, a positive way to look at adoption based on our adoption by God in Christ. |
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National LFL Conference
Date: August 5-6, 2011
Where: Irving, Texas
Theme: Adopted in Christ
Scripture: “[W]hen the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV). Learn More and Register Online
This year’s conference will focus on helping participants grow in their understanding of what it means to be Adopted in Christ and how this action of our heavenly Father affects our relationships with one another and the manner in which we deal with life issues in our congregations. The keynote speaker is Russell Moore, author of the book Adopted For Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches. Workshop topics include a panel with a birth mother, adoptive parent, and adopted child and will also cover embryo adoption, foreign adoption, foster care, and pastors and politics.
One way to support LFL and help keep conference costs under control is to include a Witness Sponsorship in the conference book―and encourage others to do the same! Check out these links for more info:
Download 2011 Witness Book Sponsorship Cover Letter Download 2011 Witness Book Sponsorship Contract
The conference is also a great opportunity for exhibitors. Find out more at this link:
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Life Quotes and Life Thoughts can also be found on the Home page in the Renewal For Life library. |
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