The Christian is not called to harsh independence or emotional isolation; the Christian is called to freedom from slavery to someone’s opinion of them. When we attempt to control how others perceive us, we are often trying to secure something that has already been given to us in Christ. First John 3:1 says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 

Biblical forgiveness is not about erasing the truth or enabling the cycle of hurt to continue. It’s about releasing bitterness to God, trusting His justice, and choosing to walk in freedom, even if that means walking away.

As Christians, we are not immune to suffering or past hurts. Our experiences can leave deep wounds that, if left unchecked, can blind us to joy and hinder our journey toward spiritual fulfillment. If left to fester deep within the trenches of our memory, our past traumas can lead to resentment, bitterness, and hatred. Uncovering and facing these past wounds can be a painful task; however, as Christians, we have a unique hope that transcends our past pain, pointing us toward a

Loving people who do not understand or accept your faith is difficult, especially when it hits so close to home. Jesus knew this pain, too. In Mark 3:31-35, even His own family questioned Him, misunderstanding His mission and calling Him out of His mind. And yet, He continued to love them. He also expanded the definition of family, declaring that those who do the will of God are His brothers, sisters, and mother.

But as it turns out, we’re not the first to be confused about what happens after we die. Even in Jesus’ day, religious leaders were wrestling with questions about resurrection and the afterlife, some with genuine curiosity, and others hoping to trap Him in a theological corner. But as He so often does, Jesus doesn’t just answer their question, He reveals the deeper truth.

What I hope this blog will express is my perspective on how I feel the LCMS church has been at a disadvantage by failing to recognize the unique gifts, perspectives, and leadership styles women can bring to the table and how encouraging more women in leadership roles can help us recover Kingdom ground lost to the enemy. Identifying the unique leadership strengths in both women and men, as well as when to engage them, will have a huge impact on all of our ministry work.

We sat catching up on life, school, work, kids, our marriages and all of the fun stuff in between. At some point, the conversation turned to vocation. My friend suddenly asked, “How do you respond to new people you meet when they ask What do you do? when you ‘do nothing’ but stay home to run your family and raise your kids?” My first reaction was to get defensive and respond, “Well as a stay-at-home mom, I’d hardly say I do nothing!

If you’ve been counseling for any length of time or simply walking closely with someone who’s struggling, you’ve likely met this person.

I was left asking myself, “How do we intentionally raise up women as leaders in a way that honors our Lutheran confessions, respects theological convictions, and yet fully embraces the gifts and callings God has placed on half of His church?