For today's devotional, again we will use the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which is part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. First, read the passage and then discuss/ponder the four questions below. Conclude by reading the reflection and closing presented.
Reading: Isaiah 9- 1-4 QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text? (or for younger kids, which part of the story doesn’t make sense to me?) QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text? (or for younger kids, what is my favorite part of the story?) QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? (or for younger kids, what does this story remind me of?) QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? (or for younger kids, what is God or Jesus doing in this story?) Reflection: In our lessons for this Sunday, I keep seeing this idea of darkness and brokenness turning into new light. Verse 2 of this reading reminds me that once again: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.” Too often, I think I’ve heard this scripture and related it to some Biblical story of the past. Yeah, the people in Isaiah’s time did face a lot of hardships. Look at Moses and the people of the Exodus! Even when we hear the Christmas story and are reminded about Jesus coming to earth and being the light of the world, it still often feels distant to me. But we today walk in darkness to. We deal with conflict, broken relationships, hard times, medical uncertainties. This verse reminds us that we are to look for the light and remember that God is in our midst. The light still shines in the darkness and turns brokenness into new life. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for a situation that you are aware that needs new life and light.
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Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7
Reflection: When I was a kid I spent a lot of time at the playground and many days found myself involved in a pick-up baseball game. We didn’t need 18 people to play baseball. We adjusted the rules to suit the number of players we had. I also remember how we chose the teams. Toss a bat to somebody who caught it in one hand. The other “captain” would grasp the bat just above the first hand and back and forth they would go until somebody was at the very top of the bat and there was no room for another hand. That captain got to choose first. It was o.k. if you didn’t get chosen first, but getting chosen last—that could be a problem. God chooses us. That should feel pretty good. God chose us before we were born. Wow! What is God up to? What does God want with me? “I will give you as a light to the nations.” Really? You’ve got to be kidding. Nope. God chooses us so that we might bring the light of Jesus into the lives of other people. --Jim Bricker, Camp Mount Luther Summer Chaplain to the Staff Closing: Let’s sing: This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine! Reading: John 1:29-34
Reflection: Mine is January 25. When is yours? Yesterday we celebrated the Baptism of Our Lord, reading Matthew’s account of Jesus’ and John’s encounter at the Jordan River. Chad commented on that a week ago. Our reading for today is John’s account. Oh, I forgot to tell you that the date I’m looking for is the anniversary of your baptism. I think it is important to celebrate our baptisms. To remember that, indeed, each of us is a child of God. Chosen by God “before the foundation of the world,” Paul says in Ephesians. To rejoice that God holds us in relationship with him and consequently with each other. In that relationship we receive “grace upon grace.” Oooooooooooooops. That’s Friday’s devotion. Here’s a challenge for you—if you don’t already know, look up the date of your baptism and put it in your calendar. And if you use a digital calendar, put it in to repeat annually. And then celebrate each year the day you became a child of God and began being held in God's hand, receiving "grace upon grace." --Jim Bricker, Camp Mount Luther Summer Chaplain to the Staff Closing Prayer: At his baptism, O God, you proclaimed Jesus your beloved and sent the Holy Spirit upon him. Help all of us, your sons and daughters through baptism, to be faithful to our calling. Amen. Reading: Acts 10: 34-43
Reflection: This week, as we prepare to commemorate the Baptism of Jesus on Sunday, we have reflected on how God’s voice comes into our lives, calling us to take action. As we do God’s work with our hands, God is with us every step of the way. Our second reading for Sunday is a snapshot of that happening for the early disciples. Peter speaks to the early Church and reminds us of what happened after Jesus was baptized. He recounts Jesus’ ministry among us and how Jesus overcame death with his own death and resurrection. And, Jesus gave us the great commission that we, too, should go out and make disciples, baptizing them and testifying to what God has done. It strikes me in this passage that Peter’s account of history is infused with God doing a lot of action. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit, God raised Jesus from the dead, God chose witnesses of these things and God ordained all this to be so. It reminds me that I should spend a little more time looking for God in what I’m doing. God plays a huge role in our lives. But perhaps I don’t always see God’s presence among me as I do what I’ve been called to do here on earth. Take a little time today to reflect on where you see God! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Re-read this passage. But this time, replace Peter’s name with your name. Does it give you a new mission in the coming days? For today's devotional, again we will use the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which is part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. First, read the passage and then discuss/ponder the four questions below. Conclude by reading the reflection and closing presented.
Reading: Psalm 29 QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text? (or for younger kids, which part of the story doesn’t make sense to me?) QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text? (or for younger kids, what is my favorite part of the story?) QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? (or for younger kids, what does this story remind me of?) QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? (or for younger kids, what is God or Jesus doing in this story?) Reflection: I am particularly struck by verse 3 of this passage: "The voice of the Lord is over the waters." It reminds me of baptism. When a child or adult is baptized, isn't it something to think that God is there, in our midst. And, God was even there when Jesus' was baptized and that same voice came down from heaven and sounded over the waters. As we hear God's voice, listen to what we are being called to do, and then taking action, we should remember always that God is with us. God isn't merely directing us to do something; but, is by our side every set of the way. That is indeed good news! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray this benediction, which is often used at the end of worship services. God go before you to guide you. God go behind you to protect you. God go beneath you to support you. God go beside you to befriend you. Be not afraid. And let the blessing of Almighty God, The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Descend upon you, settle in around you, and make its home in you. Be not afraid. Go in peace. Amen. For today's devotional, again we will use the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which is part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. First, read the passage and then discuss/ponder the four questions below. Conclude by reading the reflection and closing presented.
Reading: Isaiah 42: 1-9 QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text? (or for younger kids, which part of the story doesn’t make sense to me?) QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text? (or for younger kids, what is my favorite part of the story?) QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? (or for younger kids, what does this story remind me of?) QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? (or for younger kids, what is God or Jesus doing in this story?) Reflection: The word "chosen" comes to mind when I read all four texts for this Sunday's lessons. In the Old Testament verse, we are reminded of these words: "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations." As chosen children of God, we are reminded in Isaiah that he have responsibilities, too. I think we are to spread God's love to others. And, as this verse tells us, we are to bring justice as well. We are reminded, too, in this passage that God is with us as we do that work. "I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness." What will you do today to spread God's love and light to others? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for those who need to see the light. |
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