Prayer: Lord, give us confidence in your healing power.
Reading: Mark 6:53-56 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Today, we continue our weekly look at this summer’s curriculum, “La Frontera.” Our campers will be looking at where Jesus meets us and how Jesus meets us where we are! This reading is an alternate text for the first day. She had an enlarged heart. Still she raised four children. About once a year, her daughters said, she spent a spell in the hospital because of her heart. “That was God’s way of telling mom she needed a rest,” they said. She seldom missed church. Always pleasant. Asking about others. I’d say she had a big heart. She died this week. Gasping for air. But confident that God loves her. “My next move,” she said, “is up.” Throughout her life, God healed her, over and over again. An enlarged heart, a valve replacement, she fell sometimes, an ever-present oxygen tank. But always she was confident of God’s presence and healing. She always came forward for anointing when we had services of wholeness. And God gave her healing by reassuring her of His love no matter what was going on with her health. “I want a new body,” she told me recently. Well, she has a new body now. God has released her from her misery and gives her new life. God has healed her again. Thanks be to God. --Jim Bricker
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Prayer: O Lord, you are our hope and our trust. Whether we have known it for a long time or recently received it in our hearts, thank you for always being there. Amen
Reading: Psalm 71: 1-6 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The Psalmist calls the Lord his hope and trust from his youth. How wonderful to know to count on God from early on! Some, however, figure it out later in life. Many know it all along but have momentary lapses either when the going gets too hard (feeling discouragement) or too easy (taking it for granted). Either way, God has always been there for all of us even when we don't believe it or acknowledge it. Take a few minutes to recall a hard time. Did you know then or do you see now in hindsight your hope and trust was in the Lord? Think of a time when all was going well. Keep in mind, your hope and trust was in the Lord then, too. I still think it is good to know this from days of youth. Perhaps that is why Sunday School, worship, home prayer time, church camp and outdoor ministry were a part of our family life. And, come to think of it, since we are all children of God regardless of our age, we can have hope and trust in God from our youth at any age. And all of the above would help us grow. See you at Camp Mount Luther this summer! --Ruth Gates Prayer: Show your love to us so that we may easily love others. Amen.
Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This week, we’ve been talking about “callings.” We talked about how Jesus revealed himself and how he had a different view of his ministry and who we was than those who lived in his town. We talked yesterday about how God has a plan for all of us and has known us since we were created in our mother’s womb. Today, we hear the words of St. Paul. It is a passage that is commonly used at wedding services. Quick story from my life: my wife and I both were against this passage to be read at our wedding. We both thought it was too cliché and overused at weddings. So, we picked other readings. The other reason that I didn’t like this for our wedding was that I think that too often we can see this just as a passage for married couples. I think it is something bigger. God is telling us that our ultimate calling in this life is pretty easy: love. Just love! If we make our decisions in live based out of love, we will spread the Word of God to others through our actions. When thinking about what your true calling is from God, think about love. Live love, share love, love God, do love. God is love. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: Help us, God, to see the plan you have for us. Amen.
Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This week, we are talking about “callings” and how God might be revealing something in us that we didn’t think was part of our personality. Yesterday, we talked about our business card, and what it might say. We talked about how we might not always listen to what God is calling us to do; but, instead we may “follow the crowd” or act as we think others want us to. Today, we are reminded about Jeremiah who said that God knew him before he was born and had a plan for him. I think the same can be said for us. As I look back on my life, I see that God was directing my path to get me where I am today. And, I’m confident that today’s activities are preparing me for something in the future. Trusting in God, I know that anything can happen! Later on in the book of Jeremiah, it is written, “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” How do you live in the good of that hope each day? --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Help us, Lord, to be the person that you want us to be. Amen.
Reading: Luke 4:21-30 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: What is on your business card? Or, if you don’t have one, what would it say? I read a book once by Robert Fulghum and he wrote that he had difficulty putting on one card all the things that he did. If he thought about it, he did quite a lot. There were his professional titles, the ones he had at home, and the things he did that he didn’t think about—like sleeping and breathing. So, he decided just to put his name on his business card and be the best Fulghum he could be! This week, our appointed texts talk about callings. It ties in nicely to the season of Epiphany as we look at how Jesus reveals himself. In our Bible story for today, townspeople were amazed at what Jesus was telling them. They wondered if he was the person they thought he was. They had a view of Jesus different than what Jesus saw of himself (and knew about himself). Can the same be said of us? Do we pretend to be the person that we think others want us to be? Or, are we truly the person God is calling us to be? And, what might that call be? We’ll look at all these questions this week as we look at our Bible verses for Sunday. Stay tuned! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Help me to see you in the midst of trouble, O Lord.
Reading: Mark 6:45-51 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Today, we continue our weekly look at this summer’s curriculum, “La Frontera.” Our campers will be looking at where Jesus meets us and how Jesus meets us where we are! This reading is an alternate text for the first day. Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, and others sang a song called “Stormy Weather.” It’s a broken-heart song “since my man and I ain't together.” Verse two goes like this: Life is bare, gloom and misery everywhere Stormy weather, just can't get my poor self together I'm weary all the time, the time So weary all the time. I’m remembering the times when life was no fun. There were times when it seemed like I was “straining at the oars against an adverse wind.” There were times when things were just plain miserable. There were times when it seemed that all was lost. There were times when I felt alone, abandoned, hopeless and beyond weary. Always, and I do mean always, when the bad time ended, when things got all better--thinking back on that stretch of time I realized that God was there through it all, I just didn’t see the Lord in the midst of the trouble. Where does Jesus meet us? Jesus meets us when the winds of life are as adverse as we can imagine. The stormy weather of life, Jesus walks toward us and with us. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen
Reading: Psalm 19 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Pastors often begin their sermons by saying these words as a prayer ending with an "Amen". The listening congregation then echoes "Amen" and the sermon begins. Surely the pastor wants to speak only what is acceptable to God and certainly our thoughts ought to be acceptable also. It is good to hear the pastor submit to God the message to be shared and good for all of us to keep in mind the same. If only all our words and meditations were acceptable. So many problems would be solved. Most likely many would be avoided to begin with. With God as our rock and redeemer, we stand on solid ground with the assurance of grace. Therefore our mouths can speak and our hearts can meditate what truly is acceptable. Not just Sunday mornings before sermons but every day all the time. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Help us to rely on those who can help us, O Lord.
Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I think it is human nature to think that we need to do everyone on our own. We think that we can “do it all” and achieve absolutely everything that we want to do. But the reality is that we each have our own gifts and abilities and talents. I’m not good at mechanical things such as plumbing, fixing cars, or wiring. So, I rely on plumbers, mechanics, and electricians. But, I can write pretty well. And maybe those plumbers, mechanics, and electricians aren’t so good at writing and I could help them out when they need that skill. Working together, we can accomplish so much. God has given each of us different skills and abilities to further God’s kingdom. When you get discouraged or annoyed, look around and see what skills others may have to help you. And God will show you a more excellent way! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Help us to see you, Jesus, every day. Amen. Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-10 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I’ve always like the book of Nehemiah. It reminds me of the importance of building up one another and not tearing down folks. A valuable lesson, especially as we observe the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this week. In our passage assigned for today, we are reminded of the importance of reading scripture as well. Ezra stood on a platform before the people and read the scriptures to them. In this month of resolutions and new beginnings, taking stock in how much we read God’s Word and participate in regular worship is important, too. In this season of Epiphany, Jesus is revealing himself to us. We can see Jesus in others, like Dr. King. But we can also see Jesus in the Bible and in bread and wine. Where do you see Jesus today? --Chad Hershberger Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on March 15, 2013.
Prayer: Help us to do your work, dear God, and be your hands in this world. Amen. Reading: Luke 4: 14-21 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: In this passage, Jesus' mission is outlined for us. Jesus recounts the prophecy of Isaiah and tells the people of Nazareth that he is the one who is fulfilling this prophecy. He tells the people that he has come to save them. Of course we know that he was the one to save us from sin. That was his mission. What is your mission in life? Or rather, what is God's mission for you? As you journey through life and through your spiritual walk, you sometimes must make decisions and choices about which road to take, which path to follow. Are the decisions you make leading you closer to accomplishing your mission? --Chad Hershberger Closing: Write your own "mission statement." Start by writing "God's mission for me is..." and complete the sentence. Prayer: Help me to invite others, O Lord. Reading: John 4:27-30, 39-42 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Today, we continue our weekly look at this summer’s curriculum, “La Frontera.” Our campers will be looking at where Jesus meets us and how Jesus meets us where we are! This reading, an alternate text for the day, follows on last Friday’s in which Jesus spoke with the woman of Samaria at the well. She is astonished and can’t seem to stop talking about her conversation with Jesus. “Come and see! He knows everything about me. Come and see!” Some of the Samaritans believe in Jesus because of the woman’s words. Others believe because Jesus stays in their city for two days teaching. John uses the phrase “Come and see” a number of times in his gospel. People in their excitement about Jesus call to others, “Come and see.” Jesus invites folks to be with him using the same words. “Come and see.” Jesus meets us in everyday tasks just as he met the Samaritan woman at the well. How can we invite others to be open to meeting Jesus? So often we “don’t know what to say.” It is exciting when we realize we are in the presence of Jesus. How can we invite others there? Maybe this is the best invitation there is--the simple words “Come and see.” --Jim Bricker Prayer: Endlessly loving and faithful God, thank you for the heavens and the clouds we can see and beyond. May we look up and know the extent of your love and faithfulness. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 36: 5-10 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. --Psalm 36: 5 I write this while looking up into a bright, blue sky and looking out to where it meets the shimmering green ocean. There are puffy white clouds above and more sky and clouds beyond that long curve of the horizon. Imagine! God's love and faithfulness go that far. I will come back in the evening and see stars unimaginable miles away in a darkness so deep that goes even further. The horizon will be lost in the distance. I will remember God's love and faithfulness go beyond what we can see! As I am seeing it from this beach chair, God's love and faithfulness is simply everywhere. Look up. Look out. It's there. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Spirit of God, reveal to us our gifts and talents so we may use them for the common good. Amen.
Reading: I Corinthians 12: 1-11 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. --I Corinthians 12: 7 It is amazing how each time we read a scripture passage, something different jumps out. This time for me it is this bit about "for the common good". Sure we all like to think about what gifts or talents we have. We want to think, "Wow, I really do have a knack for...(this or that)!" It's also nice to know it's okay to not be good at everything. Whatever the talent, though, it is clearly given for the common good. I call that teamwork. I recently heard a football coach give a shout-out to the marching band. The talented, record-winning team was on it's way to a big game yet the coach acknowledged the hard-working, supportive band that was there through thick and thin. "We did it together. We did it together. And we don't want to go nowhere without you. I promise you that." (The team played well and won the big game while the band was there doing their job, too. Teamwork.) This thing called life: we do it together. It is teamwork. Our talents are given and to be used for the common good. Let's all do our best in what we do best and remember to give a shout-out to each other. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Always with us and for us God, speak and act in our lives so we may be saved. As you delight in us, let us rejoice. Amen
Reading: Isaiah 62: 1-5 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: ...and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62: 5b Perhaps it was because our wedding anniversary day was spent in a sunny, warm place but there was much rejoicing over each other and the blessings of the past 24 years. However, vacation comes to an end and we'll be back to a cold winter climate and the usual ups and downs of a relationships. Life isn't always a tropical paradise, however, marriage is for always. The prophet Isaiah reminds us God is with us and for us always, too. God will not keep silent or rest. Times were tough for Jerusalem; times get tough for us, too. Years of trouble for Zion; days of difficulty for us. However, God delights in us. He will speak and act. He will vindicate and save. As the bridegroom rejoices, so God rejoices over us. Always. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Providing Father, may what lies ahead be the best we ever tasted. Amen
Reading: John 2: 1-11 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: While on vacation, I reread a book, Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool. It was one of those books I read quickly once and at the end wished I had paid more attention to things along the way. The unfolding of the storyline lived up to the definition of a word in the title: manifest - verb - to reveal, to make known. Much was revealed throughout the story yet the reader (and main character) did not know it until the end. Here I am, still on vacation, getting started on a GROW Time devotion and this scripture happens to have been "quoted" in the book I just read. It goes like this: Shady held his hat in his hands, rotating it in a slow circle, "I don't spend much time in church, but I do recall a story my mother used to tell me. Some folks had a wedding and they ran out of wine. The bartenders brought out big jugs of water. But lo and behold, out poured wine, the best they ever tasted. ...Everyone nodded, waiting for the prayer... "All right, then." Shady cleared his throat and began what sounded more like a toast than a prayer. "Lord, here's hopin' what lies ahead is the best we ever tasted." Needless to say, to understand the context of this part of the story, you would have to read the whole book; maybe even twice like I did. But this is very clear: when Jesus gets involved, we have hope what lies ahead is the best ever. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Jesus, help us to see you where you meet us in our everyday lives. Amen.
Reading: John 4: 1-42 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Today, we begin our weekly look at this summer’s curriculum, “La Frontera.” Our campers will be looking at where Jesus meets us and how Jesus meets us where we are! In this story Jesus reaches out to the unwanted. The woman by the well was a Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans did not speak or interact. It is important to note that Jesus first meets us, speaking a word of love. Jesus meets us where we are and promises to stay with us, wherever that may be. Where do you meet Jesus in our daily life? In church buildings? In your home, your school, shopping centers, ball fields? Among friends and enemies? (The answer is yes to all of these places, of course.) As you reflect on where you meet Jesus, maybe you could think of something you could do in your neighborhood. How can you share yourself with others and celebrate Jesus’s love? --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Help us to pray more this year, Lord, and be in touch with you as we serve you each day. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Did you make any New Year’s resolutions this year? I joked with my family that since we are on vacation the first week of the new year, that none of our resolutions start until we go back to work! There are many statistics about how many people make resolutions and don’t stick to them. Most don’t comply with their own wishes by the end of this first month of the year. I guess people just don’t have “stick-to-it-ness.” When I read our Psalm for today, I thought that these verses would make a good list of resolutions. And then I read the last verse of this Psalm (which was not appointed in the lectionary) and it says that these verses were the prayers of David. Which made me think: what if my resolution for this new year was to pray more. Be more in tune with making my joys, sorrows, and requests known to God. I bet this year (and my life) would be better. I bet I’d be more in-tune with God and doing God’s work. And what a great resolution that would be! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Help us to live in the good of your mysteries, God, and see Jesus in new ways. Amen.
Reading: Ephesians 3:1-12 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Happy Epiphany! Today is the day that we celebrate when the magi came to see the Christ Child. It marks the end of the season of Christmas and the beginning of a new church season, Epiphany. During this season of the church year, we see how Jesus was revealed. In our passage today from St. Paul, he talks about mysteries. I’ve been thinking a lot about mysteries lately. Since I was in elementary school, I’ve loved mystery stories. Trying to figure out “who done it” is a challenge for me. But lately I’ve been thinking about mysteries in the context of the Bible, especially the creation story. We really don’t know all the details about how God created the heavens and the earth. But do we have to? Maybe it is better if it is a mystery to us. Why did the wisemen trust following the star? Do we really know how many of them went to the manger? How old was Jesus when they arrived? And, do we really need to know the answers to these questions? What is more important is that we have faith in God and trust in God’s work here on earth. So, embrace the mystery this Epiphany season! Jesus will be revealed to us in new and exciting ways in the future! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Jesus, reveal yourself to me, especially in the dark places. Amen.
Reading: Isaiah 60:1-9 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: We are transitioning from the Advent and Christmas seasons to Epiphany. In this scripture reading, it’s all about light. What an appropriate theme as we begin to talk in church about how Jesus reveals himself to us! It is the in the light that many things are revealed. I often can’t find my glasses in the dark until I shed some light in the room. I like it at Christmastime when we have the electric candles in our windows because I can walk around the house at night and can see where I am going. Light helps to reveal what is in the darkness. In the same way Jesus is the light that reveals what is in the darkness. He comes to us and shows us that is the Way, the Truth, and the Light. What are some other ways that Jesus reveals himself to you, especially in the dark areas of your life? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on January 6, 2013.
Prayer: When the magi saw the star, dear Lord, they rejoiced. Help us to rejoice in the same way when we see you in the everyday things we do. Amen. Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Additional Questions:
Reflection: The twelve days of Christmas are almost over and we will have arrived at Epiphany. Epiphany marks when the wisemen came to visit the Christ Child. They were traveling through the desert, following a star that would lead them to a king. The wisemen put great faith in that star. They trusted that it would show them the way. In the days of slavery in the United States, slaves would travel the underground railroad to freedom. They, too, followed a star– the constellation “The Big Dipper.” It showed them the way to the north. Just like the wisemen and slaves trusted stars to lead them, we must trust God to lead us on our earthly journey. We must put our full faith in God to show us the straight and narrow path to take. Pray that God will guide you all the days of your life. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Help us, O Lord, to clean all the mud and grime from our hearts. Help us to be kind, loving, and forgiving, just as you love and forgive us. Amen. Reading: Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: My kids love the Unami Creek, which winds its way through the woods just a few miles from our house in Upper Bucks County. They have a great time splashing in the creek, playing with the rocks, and especially getting covered in mud! It’s all fun and games…until it’s time to get in the car and drive home. I have them wipe off as much mud as they can, sit on their towels in the car, and make them promise when they get home to “Go straight upstairs, don’t touch anything, get those muddy clothes off, and hop straight into the tub!” Even though I’m not much of a housekeeper, I still don’t want that mud and dirty water all over the house. Even if they do make a mess, which they inevitable do, it’s relatively easy to deal with dirt and grime that we can see. We can bathe our bodies and wash our hair, and use stain stick and bleach on our clothes, etc. In his letters to the Ephesians, Paul reminds us to “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.” He also tells us to “Be angry but do not sin.” How do we do this? There are only a few Bible verses that I know by heart. One of them is, of course, Ephesians 4:32! Be ye kind, one unto another: Tenderhearted, forgiving one another, Just as God, for Christ’s sake Has commanded you. Doo, doo, doodle-y doo. Ephesians 4:32! Even when we forget to be kind, we are forgiven. When we’re covered in metaphorical mud, we’re forgiven. When we’re angry and we yell and scream, we are forgiven. When we’re angry and we fume in silence, we are forgiven. God always forgives us. All of us. No matter what. --Christine Conz Moll, Camp Mount Luther Alumni Camper |
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