Today's Focus: Faith Trusts God's Powerful Word   Today we meet a centurion who believed that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word. The centurion trusted Jesus' powerful word. God's word powerfully demonstrates God's worth. The Lord is worthy of our praise; his word is worth hearing. This is true for us and all people, regardless of nationality, race, background, gender, or station in life. Jesus desires and gives the faith that trusts God's powerful word.

Today's Focus: Sainthood Gives Us Stamina  God grants the status of "saint" (which means "holy one") to every believer. Being a saint does not make life easier. In some ways it makes life more difficult as we struggle against a world that is hostile toward Christ. This week we get a peek at the saints who have died and now live in the glory of Christ's light. We realize what a precious gift this status of saint actually is. We understand that soon enough we shall join all the saints in that glorious heavenly city. And that gives us amazing stamina to face the challenges of this world with the strength Christ gives to all his saints.

Today's Focus: Christ WITH Us   Over 500 years ago, Lutheran Christians were under tremendous pressure. They were forced to defend themselves on battlefields both metaphorical and literal. But they took comfort that Christ himself was by their side upon the plain with his good gifts and Spirit. Just 175 years ago, the Lutheran Christians who founded WELS were also under tremendous pressure. The pressure continues today with opposition to the truths of the Word of God. But we take comfort that Christ is with us in Word and sacrament, and we move forward with the promise of his presence.

Today's Focus: A God Who Demonstrates Love Unlike Any Other  Jesus tells us repeatedly, "I have come to seek and to save the lost." What do the lost look like to you? Maybe when we think of the lost we think of people living in far off lands, with a far off culture and religion. Maybe we think of someone in our social circle we would like to get to church. Maybe we remember a time in our own lives. Today gives us an opportunity to see God's unique and unconditional love in action: seeking and saving the lost. And today we get to see again how God graciously involves us in the mission of sharing his message of grace with the lost in our lives.