Did you know that October is Pastor Appreciation Month? You may want to thank your pastor and other church workers but aren't sure what they would most appreciate. As a pastor's wife and Lutheran educator, allow me to share a few helpful ideas with you. Here are seven ways to bless your pastor for Pastor Appreciation Month.

On the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels today, we focus on the Old Testament Reading with a devotion from Concordia Commentary: Daniel.

You have a request. Maybe it’s big, maybe it’s small.

God, I want a spouse. A baby. Healing. A new job. Reconciliation. Rest.

You cry to God—the only thing you know to do in a situation like this. Day in and day out, you feel like you’re flinging your supplications up to God only to have them fall back down on your bowed head.

Unanswered. Unheard. At least, that’s how it seems.

Our devotion for today is about the Epistle and comes from God’s Word for Today: James.

Moment of truth: I asked my teenage son to help me write this. He’s an almost-sixteen-year-old, who is willing to give me input about initiating the "sex talk." I kind-of-most-definitely want to hear what he has to say. I wanted to know what he feels we've succeeded in and inevitably, what he feels we've failed at over the years. I asked him because, truth be told, it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly how to initiate this conversation with kids.

Our devotional text on the Feast of St. Matthew focuses on the Gospel of the day.

The book of Numbers recounts the Israelites' wilderness wanderings on their way to the promised land. Read a brief overview of Numbers and download Bible study questions to help you read through this book.

Today we focus on the Gospel, Mark 9:14–29, which includes the account of a father’s confession of faith while asking Jesus to cast the demon out of his son. Our devotional reading comes from Words of Promise: Daily Devotions through the Year.

I tend toward using my phone to check out. I’m just going to say that out loud and let it be a thing.

We focus on the Old Testament Reading today with a devotion from Concordia Pulpit Resources.