7-Day Devotional
Our Vision Lutheran Indian Ministries envisions a day when all nations walk together in Christian fellowship. This is the driving force behind our Native ministry. We want all Native people to know they have forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ. We seek to share this life-changing Gospel message in a way that addresses and heals their particular needs and hurts. We want Native American children of God to gain self-worth, knowing He created each one uniquely for His purpose. We want Natives to thrive in stable and healthy families and communities with empowered leaders devoted to Christ.
The Invisible Future Many First Nations people believe in the Seventh Generation Principle, that all our decisions should take into account our families seven generations from now. Everything we do and plan should help to make future generations strong and successful. Too often, we hear the stories of our people, filled with pain, death, hopelessness, and rejection, and it s hard to comprehend how we can make the drastic changes needed, not only for the Seventh Generation but for the first and second! But we know, God sees and hears the cries of our people. He encourages men and women of faith to rise up in prayer, to rise up and dance. This is the work we do at the LIGHT House. We encourage students at Haskell Indian Nations University to rise up and guide their people toward Christ and toward a better future. With Christ, we see a vision of hope and restoration of the First Nations people, and we hold on to His every promise with an assurance of a future we can t yet see. We have confidence that the Seventh Generation will be strong in Christ, because God has already brought us out of pain and despair. We have the assured promises of God who says He will never leave us or forsake us. If God is for us who can be against us. By faith, God has called us here to walk with this generation to bring new life and healing through the students at Haskell. We will see our people healed and made whole by faith, one Native American at a time. We are here for such a time as this: to bring God s Native people into His Kingdom. Dear Father God, thank you for the opportunities you give us to share your Word with those who desperately need to hear it, and in doing so lifting up future generations of American Indian and Alaska Natives with the hope and love of Jesus Christ. In Jesus Name, Amen. Patricia Main (Cree) (Pictured: Cree dancer)
The Big Forgiver Every spring, we have the Blessing of the Fleet in Neah Bay which marks the beginning of the fishing season and asks God to bless the year s harvest. Last year, there were at least 100 people at the marina, and it was a very meaningful time for all who attended. Later that morning, a young fisherman, who had been at the Blessing, came to my office at Makah Lutheran Church. He had his Bible in one hand and questions on his heart. Last June, Lutheran Indian Ministries had given him and the other high school graduates a study Bible at their Baccalaureate ceremony. He admitted that he hadn t opened it until recently when he was bored one day, but as he read God s Word, his heart was moved and his faith was stirred through the work of God s grace. Now came his question: How can I know I haven t committed sins that put me past God s forgiveness? His question was based on reading Hebrews 10:26: For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. (ESV) As you can imagine, we engaged in a lengthy conversation about sin and forgiveness. You could see in his eyes a hunger for God and a need of assurance. I shared with him that if he had committed an unforgiveable sin, he wouldn t be in my office concerned as he was. His seeking heart was evidence that the Holy Spirit was working to draw him in toward Christ and God s great forgiveness. We prayed together, and I assured him that God s forgiveness was certainly big enough for him. God s great forgiveness is big enough for all of us! Thank you, gracious Spirit, for never giving up on me, and always being there at work, turning my heart back to the truth of God s great love and forgiveness. In Jesus name, Amen. Winston Wilson (Cowlitz) (Pictured: Cowlitz elder)
The Simplicity of God s Will Have you ever heard someone ask, What is God s will for my life? Often what they want to know is a very specific answer to a question: Should I marry this person? Should I take this new job? The traditional Navajo religion seeks answers to these spiritual dilemmas by enlisting the help of people called hand tremblers who heal and diagnose illness, witchcraft, and other imbalances that may be plaguing the seeker. This Scripture from 1 Thessalonians gives us, as Christians, specific directions to follow as it relates to God s will. It is less about the specific situations and decisions of life and more about putting God at the center of your world. The passage is taken from the section of the book called the paranesis or encouragement. After presenting all of what God has done for us in Christ, Paul ends his letters exhorting his hearers to live according to the Spirit rather than the flesh. The key to this particular phrase is in Christ Jesus. Our lives are now in Christ from our baptism to our deaths. In Christ, there is great freedom (Gal. 5:1), and we do not have to be concerned about whether or not it is God s will for this or that life decision. So much of what we are concerned about spiritually is often spinning wheels and chasing the wind. But God s will for us is to experience every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3) and the fruit of His Spirit in our lives are the actions we see above. Many of the people we encounter on the Navajo nation have not received these spiritual blessings. They are not in Christ, and so it is our privilege to announce the Good News of what Jesus has done for them. As a result of being in Christ, these good things, joy, thankfulness, and communion with God come about. What a blessing it is to be in Christ! Dear Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to heal and guide us. Thank you for keeping me from evil and imbalances in my life when I follow your will praying and giving thanks in all circumstances. In Jesus name, Amen. Tim & Heidi Norton (Pictured: Navajo woman)
The Fisherman s Leap When we are called by God, it is often out of our grasp of understanding, comfort, and everything this world has taught us is normal. When Jesus called His disciples to come and follow Him, it was out of complete faith that they stopped everything they were doing and listened. They were willing to take a giant leap of faith to be with Him. Imagine how much different their lives would have been if they hadn t listened, the blessings they would have missed and the road to salvation they would have squandered for themselves and others. Take Simon, for example. He was a fisherman. His father and grandfather were most likely fishermen. He had been fishing his entire life. He was born to fish. He knew his boat. He knew the water. He was a hard worker. Then one day, this man named Jesus shows up. Simon was probably thinking: I have been out here all night fishing and have not caught a single fish and you want me to go back into the water with my net? I am tired, and I want to go home. I have been out on these waters since I was a small child I know what I m doing! But what did Simon do? He said, You say to put the nets in the water; so I will. They caught so many fish that their nets began to break, and their boats almost sank. Simon, James, and John were in utter amazement and immediately left everything to follow Jesus. When we are called by God, when He quickens our spirit, we must listen. We must get up and go like Simon. We must leave our familiar, our comfort zone, even if the details are not all worked out, and put our trust in Jesus and the plans He has for us. Our faith walk with Jesus Christ is full of excitement, adventure, endurance, and perseverance. God is our Father, and He knows what is best for us. All we have to do is listen. Then, we need to put our nets in the water, one last time, and be willing to leave everything to go and to follow. Thank you, God, for putting passion into my heart and calling me to follow you into the unknown. Give me strength to persevere in the job you have given me in your Kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen. Bob (Rosebud Sioux) & Deon Prue (Pictured: Rosebud Sioux elder)
The Umbrella in the Storm Our ministry, Haskell LIGHT, is located at the Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. We have a somewhat transient fellowship, but we also have a core group that regularly attends services and events, plus a variety of students who filter in and out of our doors, and others still who we meet on campus and have yet to step into the Haskell LIGHT House. Our ministry is very intentional. We invade campus with social events in the freshmen dorms, guest speakers and concerts hosted on campus, participation in intramural games, and Christ-like service to the university staff during their events. We plan accordingly, with the future (bigger picture) in mind. However, planning does not prepare us for the personal issues that come with a campus ministry: a student facing family troubles, financial upheaval, relationship problems. In the midst of the week one loses a job, another contemplates abortion, and yet another struggles with selfhatred and suicidal thoughts. The tough situations we encounter daily have one solution and that is the Creator, God. We must have assured reliance in the character, ability, strength, and truth of who the Creator is. He will come through for us, just as He will for you. This ministry, and life in general, causes us to contemplate what drives us to our knees in prayer. Is it failure that drives us to our knees? Is it success that drives us to our knees? It should be a combination; prayers of petition, confession, and thanksgiving all have a place in our day. The Lord is my strength and my shield, and often times He also acts as an umbrella! We choose to praise the Lord even in the midst of the storms that life will throw at us, and we take shelter under that umbrella. Lord, we pray to you this day. You are not surprised by any of the storms that blow in; you have created us to seek your face whether we are in lack or in abundance, so we pray to you today for strength in the storm. We trust in you, Lord. Amen. Will Main (Dakota Sioux) (Pictured: Dakota Sioux children)
The Strength of Contentment We're watching via satellite a young Native woman, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, talk to the judge. This drinking spree may cost her years of trying to provide a better life for herself and her children. After three years of walking with her through her struggles, we feel almost as dejected as she looks. A relative, who is dear to us, is writhing on the floor in spasms of pain. Her emancipated body is wrapped in a blanket to ward off the chills. She alternately begs me to hold her and then yells out and pushes me away. For the second time, she has walked out of the detox center before the drugs were out of her system. I know by tonight she will take her chances again with the needle. Both of these women have experienced years of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. With the support of Lutheran Indian Ministries, we are able to minister to those God has put in our life. It is our job to help others to find contentment in Christ instead of searching for something else to fill their emptiness. It is our job to show them that God fills the emptiness better than drugs or alcohol, better than wealth or human love. The apostle Paul witnessed other people's sorrows and troubles, as well as experiencing his own, but he rested in knowing that he was a redeemed servant of God. He knew how to sit with someone in their pain and welcomed others of the faith to share in his, all the while being content in Christ alone. The contentment Paul was talking about is much bigger than any individual situation you face in your day. This kind of contentment must encompass your entire life. It is saying: By God's grace and His might, I will continue the work He has set before me whatever the situation. As Paul says, For in Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28) Dear Lord, I am thankful that your grace is sufficient for me and for the world. Help me to show others my contentment by my actions and words. Please continue to encourage me with the knowledge that you have a plan for me in your Kingdom, as I come to you daily in prayer and thanksgiving. In Jesus name, Amen Dave (Nuu-chah-nulth) & Rosemary Sternbeck (Pictured: Alaska Native dancer)
The Courage Source We are so privileged to be serving the Native people on the Olympic Peninsula. For over 12 years, we have formed relationships and served some of the most amazing and loving people we have ever met. Recently, we have been dealing with some major health problems in our family, but, because we know who we are in Christ, we are able to walk confidently and courageously under God s grace knowing He is in full control of the situation. We know that He will be with us wherever we go. Countless times, we have sat with people on the reservations facing similar health issues. Those that love and trust in the Lord face their problems with strength and courage. They are at peace with whatever the outcome may be, but these people are few. Because of the close knit community, it can be hard to be a believer, and it often takes a great deal of courage to stand up and make known their love and trust in God s promises. Too often, we have held the hands of those that face the unknown with paralyzing fear and an uncertainty of what the future will bring. Without the promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ, they cling to what they know and often blame others for their troubles. People who don t understand Christ s love, often turn to other things to ease the fear of the unknown. Whether it is drugs, alcohol, or some other source of spirituality, none of these will be a lasting solution, only making them more fearful. These other sources of strength are Satan s devices to steer people away from finding the real truth and the real source of our courage. What many people fail to see is that if we walk in the hope of God s promises, we cannot live in fear of the unknown. We will not be anxious about what will happen tomorrow, because we can face the future with the confidence and courage of an everlasting life in Christ. Lutheran Indian Ministries doesn t just share the Gospel, we conquer fear and anxiety with the power of God. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of your everlasting presence in my life. When things start to get scary, or I get anxious, help me to cling to this promise and to you, where I can find my strength and security. In Jesus name, Amen. Tom (Ioway) & Cathy (Cherokee) Benzler (Pictured: Cherokee couple)
8 STAFF MINISTRY SITES 6 ASSOCIATE MINISTRY SITES 6 NATIVE AMERICAN ORDAINED STAFF (4 PASTORS, 1 DEACON, 1 DEACONESS)
TO SHARE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST WITH EVERY NATIVE AMERICAN NATION IS MUCH BIGGER THAN US. In order to be successful and to make an impact in God s Kingdom, we need people like you to support Lutheran Indian Ministries with your time, prayers, and financial gifts. 15400 West Capitol Drive, Suite 201 Brookfield, WI 53005 888-783-5267 www.lutheranindianminsitries.org