Prayer: Dear Lord, may we begin and end each day with a thankful heart for all you have done and will do for us. Amen.
Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (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: Paul usually begins his letters with a thanksgiving to show gratitude for and encourage those hearing the letter before he begins to “preach” to them a bit, and this one is no exception. I think reading the start of this letter is a great way to start off a new year. Many people start off the new year with resolutions to improve something in their life that they are dissatisfied with. This can be a great tactic for some people to make big changes, but I believe it is often tackled from the wrong mindset, simply causing frustration. Just as Paul is expressing his thanks to those hearing his letter, thanking God for giving them grace, enriching them, and blessing them with spiritual gifts, I want to encourage you to be extra thankful for ordinary things! For God has enriched you, blessed you with spiritual gifts as you wait, and had given you his saving grace. Try putting a thankful spin on your goals and resolutions – for example, it might go something like this: “I am thankful for how God has blessed me with the ability to be active, to run, hike, and bike. So, this year I want to do those things more, and thankfully enjoy what God has blessed me with.” --Anne Harshbarger
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