Easter Triumph…..Easter Joy!

This is the day the Lord has made – let us rejoice and be glad in it!    We certainly have reason to rejoice!  Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who has triumphed over death, we have Easter joy!

I’d like to share with you the story of Toni.  Toni was a consultant/trainer with a training company for which I worked.  She and I had worked together for six years and Toni had trained me to be a trainer of the programs we delivered.  She was vibrant, alive and a Christian – a Lutheran Christian as well!  We hit it off famously and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company.

Toni called me one day and asked if we could talk.  She let me know that she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and only had a short time to live.  Toni was not going to have heroic treatments but wanted to die with her family and friends around her and live her last days as comfortable as possible.  When I left her that day, I was shocked and saddened and wondered what I could do to help her through her final days.  However, I never came up with anything special I could do for her.

A few days later, Toni called and wondered if I had some free time.  She asked if I could come over to her home, to bring my Bible, and if I would read scripture to her.  She was vulnerable and somewhat scared…she needed reassurance and wanted to find peace in God’s word.  That began a two week period of daily visits, scripture reading and discussion.  A complete peace and joy began to surface in our time together.   In “preparation” for one of our mini Bible study times, I turned to I Corinthians 15 which I remembered from Confirmation as the Resurrection chapter of the Bible.  There I found in verses 54-57 the following words: "Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those words brought so much comfort to the two of us.  We have the victory over sin and death!!  That is our Easter triumph which brings us Easter joy!!

Toni passed away four days after our reading of these verses.  She was cremated and her funeral was held with her family and friends celebrating her life and relationship with Jesus Christ.  Her pastor said that Toni told him we had read scripture together and asked if I would read some scripture at her funeral service.  When he asked me what I would read,  I confidently told him that these  words  of I Corinthians 15, brought the most comfort to Toni in her final days.  Toni has found the Easter triumph in her death…I too will have that Easter triumph with her at the throne of God someday! 

Our role as Lutheran Women in Mission is to share that beautiful message of Easter joy!  The women at the tomb were the first people to share Jesus resurrection.  They ran  to tell His disciples!  We should run to share our Easter joy as redeemed children of God.  Let’s be like the women at the tomb – run and share this message with one person today!!

Serving our Risen Savior with you,

The Michigan District LWML now includes 31 zones in the lower peninsula
and part of the upper peninsula of the state of Michigan. There are 345 congregational units and 361 societies with a membership of over 9,000.

The District Board of Directors meets regularly and includes elected officers, zone presidents, pastoral counselors and appointed committee members. There is an annual fall women’s conference that all women are invited to attend that features leadership training. The District also holds annual retreats for the Board and Executive Committee annually.

The district assembles in convention biennially during the summer of the even years. The convention is held for the following purposes:



Personal Mission Work:  Each person is actively involved in prayerfully promoting and participating in mission work.

Supporting Leaders and Training Leaders:  The LWML identifies, trains, develops, and encourages leaders to confidently and competently fulfill their responsibilities.

LWML Awareness: The LWML is widely recognized as an organization of women empowered by the Holy Spirit to be in the Word and in mission for their Lord.