My Treasure – My Hope

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From Tapestry, Winter 1994
Anne Taylor, Laurentian District Editor in 1994

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE TREASURE?
Discuss treasure in relation to: Exodus 19:5 (compare 1 Peter 2:9); Psalm 119:162; Proverbs 15:6, 16; Proverbs 18:22; Matthew 12:35; 2 Corinthians 4:7.
What did the following discover about treasure?
Solomon – Ecclesiastes 2:8-11
The rich fool – Luke 12:16-21
The two home builders – Matthew 7:24-27
What advice does Matthew offer regarding treasure in Matthew 6:19-21?
Compare material treasure with spiritual treasure.

 

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF HOPE?
How is hope expressed in the following? Joshua 1:9; Job 19:25-27; Psalm 30:5; Psalm 119:81-116; Psalm 146:5-6; Isaiah 26:3; Lamentations 3:22-25; Matthew 6:25-34; Romans 4:18-21; Romans 8:23-25; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Philippians 4:6-7; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 13:5-6; Revelation 2:10.
What hope is given to the following?
Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:15
Abraham – Genesis 15:5
David – 2 Samuel 7:16
To us – Isaiah 41:10, 13; Isaiah 43:1-2; Micah 7:7-9
What is our hope? See Acts 26:13.
How is our hope challenged in 1 Peter 3:15-16?
What is our hope? See 1 Timothy 1:1.
What is Jesus’ hope for us, His redeemed and sanctified people? See Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8.
The title of our Bible study is “My Treasure – My Hope.” DO THE TWO THOUGHTS GO TOGETHER?
How do they fit together personally for you?
What were Paul’s comments regarding “My Treasure – My Hope” in Philippians 3:7-11?
Close by singing “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” LSB #575, 576.

May Christ be our greatest Treasure and the fulfillment of your every hope!

 

This study is taken from Tapestry, publication of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing. An order form can be found at https://lutheranwomen.ca/publications-and-forms/tapestry. The magazine is published four times a year and is available in print, large print, audio and via download.

©2018 LWML-Canada

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If God really loved me

If God really loved me – PDF to print

The following story was published in the Winter 2008 issue of Tapestry and submitted to the Canadian Church Press awards competition in 2009. It is one of several award-winning articles published in various issues of this publication by Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada.

by Marlo Schalesky

“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so…” It’s such a simple song. I learned it as a child and sang it probably a thousand times. I never thought to doubt it, until a few short years ago.

It was my thirty-fifth birthday. Thirty-five is a milestone of sorts, when all the good statistics for pregnancy decrease while the bad ones take a giant leap forward. Of course, I’d always planned to have a house full of children by the time I was thirty-five, so the stats weren’t going to matter. But my plans obviously weren’t the same as God’s.

Wise Men reach the right spot for treasure

Wisemen Reach the spot – PDF to print

Magazine theme: X marks the spot – looking for treasure

From Tapestry, Winter 1994
by Rev. Fritz Schmitt, Ontario LWML District Pastoral Counsellor in 1994

Read through the account of the Wise Men worshipping Jesus in Matthew 2:1-12 (you may also want to check out the Old Testament references to this story in Micah 5:2 and Numbers 24:17).

Most of the artwork involving the Wise Men suggests the star they followed acted like some sort of beacon leading them to the treasure they sought. But how much did the star actually lead them and why did they make the journey to see Jesus?

1. From Matthew 2:1-2 we can tell they are probably not Jews and probably from outside the Roman Empire. What treasure (advantage, benefit, blessing) would they be able to find in paying homage to a foreign king in a foreign land who would have to struggle against foreign domination of His people?
What do people in our day and age expect to gain by giving gifts to politicians and powerful leaders of their own country.
2. What was it (vs. 5-6) that helped the Wise Men find the treasures they sought, more than the star, the ruling priests and the scribes could?
Does this suggest what we should use more than anything else to find a true and lasting treasure for ourselves?
3. When they are finally led to their destination the Wise Men leave treasure instead of taking some back with them, or did they exchange one treasure for another? If the latter, what did they take back with them?
4. Can the Wise Men and their actions tell us anything about the cost and the effort involved in locating the treasure that God has promised us?
5. Is there a risk or commitment involved in the treasure here?
6. How is God involved in the Wise Men’s journeys and searches?
7. How might the Wise Men’s actions demonstrate a proper regard for material treasures in comparison with eternal treasures?

 

This article is taken from Tapestry, publication of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing. An order form can be found at https://lutheranwomen.ca/publications-and-forms/tapestry. The magazine is published four times a year and is available in print, large print, audio and via download.
©2018 LWML-Canada

The Vocation of Soldiering

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This story, winner of an award from Canadian Church Press, is from Tapestry, Spring 2007. It was written by Rev. Victor Morris, Chaplain, Canadian Armed Forces.

One of my favourite verses to use with the soldiers I serve is Psalm 144:1 – “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”

Their reaction is usually, “You’re kidding, Padre! That’s in the Bible?!”  The shock value of this usually leads to some great discussion as we move to Romans 13 (see below). In the first seven verses we hear about God’s design of order, justice and authority in this world. In describing this authority St. Paul writes:

“…For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.  He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer” (vs. 4).

The Master Weaver

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by Rev. Harold Clarke, Pastoral Counsellor in 1994

God, the Master Weaver, directs all His purposes. The lives of His called people reflect His plan of salvation for all mankind.

SARAH (Heb.: ‘princess’), the wife of Abraham, is an example of God’s plan woven in the lives of His people. Sarah (called Sarai in Genesis 11, 12, 16-18, 20, 21, 22, 49:31, Isaiah 51:2) was Abraham’s half-sister and became his wife (Genesis 11:29) before the family left Ur of the Chaldeans on the long journey to Haran, and from there to Canaan (Genesis 11:31).

The Lord stepped in to rectify the situation. (Genesis 11:17-20; 20:3).

Despite her beauty, Sarah was a very tragic woman of her generation. Why?
See Genesis 15:2, 16:1.

What made her situation all the more ironical? Genesis 13:16.

In keeping with the custom of her times, what was Sarah’s solution to her childless condition? Genesis 16:1-4.

Not the will of God, Sarah’s choice led to what problems? Genesis 16:5-6.

What was God’s answer despite the advanced age of Abraham (99) and Sarah (90)? Genesis 17:1-8, 17:15-22, 22:1-2.

Isaac’s name means “he laughed.” Do you see any significance to this name? Genesis 17:17.

God’s promise woven in the life of Sarah and Abraham finds fulfillment in what well-known figure? Matthew 1:2-16, Luke 1:33-37.

The Great Master Weaver has promised “…in all things God works for the good of those who live Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

This study is taken from Tapestry, Fall 1994, a publication of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing. An order form can be found at https://lutheranwomen.ca/publications-and-forms/tapestry. The magazine is published four times a year and is available in print, large print, audio and via download.

©2018 LWML-Canada

God is calling…are you listening?

God is calling-story-PDF to print

Some people are born storytellers. Such a person is Jasmine Carlson. At only eight years of age she knows how to hold an audience and how to get her point across. The following story was written as an oral story. With only a little editing it works just as well read as it did heard. Her story won an award in 2004 from Canadian Church Press.

By Jasmine Carlson

The land was hot, baked by the sun. All that could be seen for miles around was dry sand. Here and there were some patches of grass and water. These were the places the shepherd would lead his sheep for food and water and a bit of rest. The shepherd watched as his sheep grazed on the sweet grass. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed one of the sheep scampering off. With a sigh and a roll of his eyes, he picked up his staff and followed. The sheep climbed up the side of a mountain with the shepherd close behind him. The shepherd’s feet were blistered, his body was weary and dirt fell from his sandals as he climbed. Just then, up ahead, he thought he saw a bright light. He walked closer and saw that the light was actually from a fire. A bush growing on the mountain side was in flames. The shepherd was curious and placed his hand above the flames but they gave no heat.

Living as God’s Woman

The following story was published in the Winter 2002 issue of Tapestry and submitted to the Canadian Church Press awards competition in 2003. It was the third award received by Tapestry.

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Several women were invited to write, in 300 words or less, from their experiences of living as God’s woman in today’s world. Three responded. Their ages and life circumstances are quite varied, just as the particular experiences they have chosen to share. How do you live as God’s woman?