God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble. - Psalm 46:1
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our international ministry centers to write our Sunday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
I had just entered one of the hospitals in the city where I work as a chaplain. I was visiting a lady who was a Sunday school teacher but who was also in constant need of health care because of severe kidney problems. As soon as we started the conversation, my cell phone rang. I did not recognize the phone number. It was not one of my contacts.
When I answered, I was troubled because I heard only crying and despair.
I asked the person who had called me to explain what was happening. It was a woman who spoke in a tone of voice that revealed deep anguish.
My office was near the address where the lady lived and I asked her to go there. I called the church secretary, explained the situation, and asked her to receive the lady in a cordial manner.
I quickly informed my patient I was visiting that I had to leave because of an emergency. I went to the car and left for the office. On the way, the phone caller's words played over and over again in my head.
She had said, "I need help! I need help! Otherwise, I'll do something stupid!"
In my office I found a person whose face was tormented as she sobbed in tears. When she calmed down, she told me about the many problems in her family. She spoke of the crisis in her job and how her life had been turned to a living hell in recent months. She was an employee of one of the hospitals in the city where I work as a hospital chaplain.
She looked into my eyes and said, "It feels like an earthquake has shaken my life in every area! I just want to die."
I listened to her life story, her problems, and her crises. Then, I read Psalm 46 to her and saw how the Word of God calmed her heart. I prayed with her and for her. We put before the Lord her anguish and needs. After that, her face and body visibly relaxed.
In subsequent conversations I asked her how she had first gotten my phone number.
She took the book Five Minutes with Jesus from her purse and said, "I work at the hospital. This book has helped me in many moments. When I was discouraged, I found a word of comfort and encouragement. When things became unbearable, I saw this phone number in the book and decided to call."
The Lutheran Hour Ministries' booklet Five Minutes with Jesus is one I distribute to the people I visit in the hospital. The Holy Spirit had placed that booklet into this lady's hands and given her a word of comfort, which has now blossomed into a world of faith in the Savior.
Once again God had proven the truth of His Words: "The Lord of hosts is with us" (Psalm 46:7a). By God's grace may other lost and troubled souls in this world come to know their Redeemer and learn that "God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble."
THE PRAYER: Jesus, my Savior, in You we find refuge, even when we face death. Give me courage to share Your comfort-giving Word with the lost and troubled of this world. In Your Name I ask it. Amen
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Pastor Adelar Munieweg. Pastor Munieweg is married to Miriam and they live in Pelotas, Brazil, with their son and daughter. For nine years, he has served as chaplain in eight hospitals in Pelotas. There he has often used Lutheran Hour Ministries' written materials to bring comfort to people in need.
In this large South American country of more than 200 million people, Lutheran Hour Ministries-Brazil is known in-country as Hora Luterana and has its ministry center in São Paulo. It was first established in 1947. Today LHM-Brazil reaches out to Brazilians through social media and by a daily radio program, Five Minutes with Jesus . A voice-mail service, Messages of Hope , utilizes audio messages and is distributed via e-mail as well. Another resource for Brazilians is a weekly "live" online Bible study. This ministry center also utilizes Equipping the Saints ( ETS ) workshops to train volunteers in sharing the Gospel. Another resource is the "Chaplaincy with Jesus" project, which coordinates its work with various chaplaincy programs throughout Brazil, ministering to individuals in prisons and hospitals.
Read how the "Chaplaincy with Jesus" program is making a difference in the lives of patients and hospital employees. You can visit LHM-Brazil's blog by clicking here.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
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