Banners have played a big part in the decorations of our churches. Many centuries back they often took the form of fantastic tapestries woven in great detail. They were often done to illustrate stories of the Bible.

They have flown during military engagements back in the old days to designate an assembly point for soldiers to assemble and move forward together (or retreat sometimes).

We use banners a lot in LWML. One of my favorite moments at national LWML conventions is the district banner procession where 40 different interpretations of the convention theme are carried in by the LWML District Presidents and their Young Woman Representatives. It is always so beautiful and uplifting.

Much like the tapestries of old, our banners serve to convey a message, a story and for those of us who are visual learners, they often help us digest a thought or teaching by what they say and what they look like.

They also serve as a rallying point for us. The wonderful prophetic chapter 11 of Isaiah mentions banners twice. Verse 10 (NIV) says, In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. Again, in verse 12 it goes on, He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.

I share this banner that my friend, Barb, made with the new LWML logo. It is really beautiful. She has a talent for banner making that she uses and dedicates to the Lord. She serves His people by using her God-given gifts of artistry. She is a blessing.

I know many of you also “raise banners” for the Lord. You rally His people around a thought. You do it for the glory of the Lord. Many of you will be making banners for Easter and for your upcoming LWML district conventions. I know you will be doing it for the glory of God!

As you do, think of that day when the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples, the nations. By the work of the Holy Spirit, our work in LWML will help bring those peoples and nations the saving Gospel message that will be the ultimate rallying point for all of us.

Patti

God has created some amazing people and put them in my life. These people are present in everyday life such as today—Sunday. Sometimes you just take comfort in the everyday relationships. They don’t need a lot of work, they’re just enjoyable. As you read this, think of the people God put in your life today, Sunday, February 25, 2018.

My husband of 44 years makes me a cup of tea while I get ready for church before he heads to the hospital. He’s on call this weekend for his cardiology group. Then I get to church and I get to sit with one of my best friends because her husband is serving as elder today and we join my son and his family in our usual pew. (No comment, please!) My grandson has a new haircut and it looks really sharp.

Our wonderful pastor has an inspirational message. He is a gift to our congregation for sure! We pray for many of our congregation members. One of our charter members has received her heavenly crown of life. She was a big encourager and friend. I will miss her. She was 100 years old.

After church, we have bell choir rehearsal. Our piece for Easter is really hard. We have a great director who is a band director at an area high school. He has a lot of patience with us older folks as we try to make our music sound like praise and not something else. He’s a marvelous musician, singer, and director. We love him.

Two bell choir members and I go out to lunch afterward and Bill takes a break from the hospital to join us. My friends are also nurses and it doesn’t take long before we are in tears laughing as we share hospital horror stories. As Bill says, “you can’t gross out a nurse”. If laughing helps the digestion we are in good shape.

Getting home, my six-year-old granddaughter calls to see if she can come over and color. So we spend some time designing new My Little Ponies and then it’s on to Toca Boca on the iPad. Later my 11-year-old granddaughter and her friend drop in for popcorn and pop. Tomorrow she gets braces put on.

Later in the evening, I’m invited down to their house to pull one of her teeth. It didn’t happen much to the disappointment of my 14-year-old grandson. Had a nice conversation with my son who is a great father.

So I’m writing this around 9:30 Sunday night. I’m disappointed my husband is still in at the hospital but I’ve had a wonderful day of rest and reconnection and I’m sorry he has had to work all day.

God really gives us such great blessings whether they are unusually surprising or unusually every day. Relationships are so important. I hope if you look back on Sunday, February 25, 2018, you’ll identify and be grateful for the people you encountered today and celebrate the relationships you enjoy. I am!

Patti

I was born and raised in Stillwater, Oklahoma. My father, Norbert R. Mahnken, was a history professor at Oklahoma State University. He arrived in 1945 and stayed there the rest of his life. In 1953 he and my grandfather, Fred W. Mahnken, who was a builder, built our home at 920 W. Cantwell St.

We lived there 16 years, all of my childhood. I remember 920 as a big house and big yard. Of course, as I look at it now, it was very small. My father kept a white fence with red rose bushes along it. It was lovely. He was able to walk to and from the campus every day. We could ride our bikes anywhere on campus, and because the campus barns were nearby we sometimes had horses or sheep coming through the yard when some ag student left the gates unlatched.

We had wonderful neighbors, some of whom belonged to our church, Zion Lutheran. We built forts, clubhouses, had a wonderful sand pile. The neighborhood basketball court was our driveway.

Best of all, we had our family. My younger brother, Robert, who many of you met in Albuquerque, my mother and my dad. We went to church, my mother did LWML, my father was an elder and substitute organist. We did family vacations and golfing together. We were a happy and blessed family unit in our little house at 920. That’s where we came home to — where we were together.

On a trip to an OSU basketball game last week my husband and I drove by 920. I had heard it was due to be bulldozed to make room for the campus expansion. Sure enough, all there was at 920 was an empty lot.

Made me sad. I’m glad I have good memories of it as a home and not just a house. As Christians we know even if our earthly house and home fades away, our heavenly house will be, above all, a home where we will be together as a family!

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John, 14:2-3).

Patti

Celebrating our Senior LWML District Presidents!

As you probably know 21 of our 40 LWML district presidents (DPs) are elected one biennium and 19 are elected the other biennium. This past week in St. Louis, 21 of our presidents attended their final Board of Directors Meeting as representatives of their districts. This is the year of district conventions and elections will be held and new leaders will take their places as presidents in their districts.

These “senior” DPs, as they are known, have been in office for four years. Past LWML President Kay Kreklau welcomed them to their first board meeting in January 2015. I’m sure as they look back they remember how much they didn’t know and how nervous they were. Now four years later they can look back and see how God walked with them and provided them with what they needed to do their jobs.

Those senior DPs were there to welcome me to my first Board meeting in 2016. They have been instrumental in celebrating our 75th Anniversary, welcoming a new LWML logo, and examining convention changes, restructure proposals, and financial issues for the organization. They have worked hard for the national organization besides the work they do in their districts.

As they gave their farewell last week, they presented me with a knockdown, gorgeous quilt. This quilt was made of fabric given from each district and constructed by LWML Nebraska North District President, Crystal Miller. To say it is fabulous in an understatement! In the corners, the new icon of LWML and the logo from Albuquerque convention are stitched. In the third corner is a butterfly with all their names on it. I believe there are around 400 butterflies on it either appliqued or quilted into it.

I’m going to bring it to convention in Mobile so all of you can admire it. I’m so honored to receive such a fantastic gift.

My butterfly theme, “Engage, Encourage, Equip, and Enjoy” has represented what I, personally, see as what LWML Women in Mission do. The butterfly represents God’s grace that is at the heart of our faith, our work, and our joy.

Thanks to all the senior DPs for what they have done for the Lord!

Thanks for the lovely reminder of the abundance of God’s grace! It’s overwhelming.

Love, Patti

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God    (Ephesians 2: 8).