The day I was baptized was a cold day in December. It was five days before Christmas and nearly 17.75 years after my earthly entrance. My pastor helped me to keep the Fourth Commandment by honoring my father and mother’s wishes to have a “private” Baptism, with just close friends and family in attendance. My sponsors are my youth group leader and my friend’s mom. That day was all sorts of things, and I felt all sorts of feelings—but the biggest one was peace. Most people I sit with in the pew don’t remember their baptismal day, and my children won’t remember theirs either. Because I remember mine, I want each of you to remember and celebrate yours and your children’s. 

It was almost eerie. It’s attributable to none other than the Holy Spirit, but it was uncanny the way every experience I’d ever had and every person I’d ever met prepared me to a T for the career missionary role I was interviewing for in early 2017.

Ten years ago, my mom and I were tying pieces of silky purple ribbon to the top of dozens of lovely wedding bulletins. It was a few weeks before my wedding, and she and I had had so much fun getting everything ready for the big day. After all the months of planning, it was starting to all come together. 

Since Concordia Gospel Outreach launched its Food Bank Arch Book Program in 2024, it has truly come to life, now sending Christian children’s books to dozens of food banks and care programs to be distributed to families in need. Today, we’ll hear from one of our partner food banks—one based at a Lutheran church in Lake Worth Beach, Florida.

It’s a tough season for my family. It’s not the toughest it could be. We’re all (mostly) healthy. We’re not looking to move or leave our jobs anytime soon. We’ve settled into a rhythm of sorts. And yet, we feel a bit more strapped and stressed than ever. If I’m being honest, I want a roadmap out of the tough. Maybe you can relate to this feeling?

Food insecurity is a silent battle. You cannot always tell who is struggling with hunger. And too often shame is placed on those who are unable to access food and are under the federal poverty level. Frequently, it isn’t just those under the federal poverty level who experience food insecurity but instead a group known as the ALICE population: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed.

Luke 18:17 says, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (ESV).

Here’s a fun fact: The common understanding of the forty days of Lent doesn’t factor in the Sundays of the season, which are excluded. Why? Because even in this time of penitence and general existence in our dark, fallen world, we still get to celebrate Easter! The Church Year is full of so many interesting features and practices like this that can help us better understand our faith—that’s why I wanted to share about a devotional resource that actively engages you in it.

Lent is a busy time for church offices—there are double the services each week, pre-service dinners before midweek services, and, of course, Easter Sunday after the end of Lent! Oftentimes, church workers can forsake their own Lenten reflections because of the busyness of the season.

“Everything will be okay.”

“Don’t worry. Be happy.”

“Hakuna matata.”

These feel-good yet frothy phrases center around an issue that is near and dear to my sinful heart: worry.