Prayer: Loving God, help us remember what holds us together is love that joyfully bears the burdens of others. Amen
Reading: I Corinthians 1: 18-25 (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: By the time this devotion is posted, Valentine's Day will be passed. But as I write, it is still two days away. This year Valentine's Day also happens to be Ash Wednesday. Chocolate and ashes all in a day. Aren't most days like that? Each day we are loved by God and we love others. However, each day, if we stop and think about it, we also know we are dust and to dust we shall return. Pauls explains Christ crucified is the power and wisdom of God. It may look like foolishness but love joyfully bears the burdens of others and makes all the difference on days of both chocolate and ashes. -- Ruth Gates
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Prayer: We love you, God. Help us to love others. Amen
Reading: Exodus 20: 1-17 (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: At first glance you would think this passage is a “piece of cake.” Well…it isn’t. Or you might say, it’s all a matter of common sense. But it’s not. So much is going on in our lives and our world that counteracts everything we are taught in these verses. So what do we do? Or say? Well, we must pray…fervently…that God will continue to guide us and strengthen us and that the power of His love will become more evident. As faithful children of God we must continue to uphold His laws which, simply stated, tell us to love God and love others. --Alice Yeakel Prayer: Lord, whatever we do in our social times, may we grow in our relationship with you and with each other. Amen
Reading: John 2: 13-22 (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 ever attend a Spiderweb Social in your church basement or fellowship hall? When a child, my family would go to this event. The men would weave a ‘‘web’’ with twine from wall to wall. Low enough for all to reach. Each length of twine had a clothespin attached and you would unravel the web and find a prize at the other end of your piece of twine. The usual thing we do at church? No. Ingenious? Yes. Fun? Absolutely! Jesus cleansed the temple driving out the sheep and cattle, pouring out the coins of the money changers and overturning their tables. These were things which got in the way of relationship with God and with others. What gets in the way of relationship with God and others today? Some would say it is social media. The church can serve so many purposes: a place to socialize and have a time of fellowship. A place to serve hot meals to the homeless or a Saturday lunch to families hard pressed to make ends meet. When Santa arrives in our town square, our church offers gallons of free hot chocolate. We are a part of the community. We offer warmth and love. A place to share God’s love. Let us come together and humbly worship Him by reaching out to our neighbors. Get the Word out. This is “social media” at its best. --Alice Yeakel On Fridays in February, we look at the scripture that our campers will be studying during Day 2 this summer of “Awesome God. Awesome Love.”
Prayer: God of all, your wisdom is unsearchable and your judgement is pure. Help me to understand your ways and to live in your path. Teach me to follow the pioneer and perfector of my faith, Christ Jesus. Amen Reading: I Corinthians 10: 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: To be clear, I don’t really like the popular advice that comes from this text—“Don’t worry, honey, God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” Paul includes the important detail that God will provide a way out. I also dislike that a destroying angel could be sent when I complain. Sometimes, I feel like I need to complain. Don’t other people need to know that I am uncomfortable and that things aren’t going the way I think they should? Is it really questioning the sovereignty of God to provide? Is it really skirting around dependence on God, to want things my way? Doesn’t God understand my mixed messages of, “Lord, I trust you, I just can’t be sure which way things are going. So, until you show me a sign, I am just trying to take care of myself.” We can’t use correction fluid or tape to cover-up the words, phrases, or verses of the Bible that make us uncomfortable. The truth is still there. The confrontation with our pride and sinfulness needs to happen. God doesn’t want us to keep making mistakes. What can be helpful to consider is that punctuation marks are very new (historically) in our reading of the Bible and not original to the text. When we let the dots and commas fall away, we may notice something that helps us to see deep meaning. For me, “God is faithful” stands out in the last verse. Christ, our rock, throughout the Old and New Testament follows us and helps us through our struggles. Christ is the way out of those life altering struggles. Christ is the humble hand that helps us to truly examine the face in the mirror and the faithful choices of the mind behind it. Christ is the one who can, in time turn our dislikes into an experience we can grow from and like. --Andrew Fitch Prayer: LORD, may we all remember, turn to and worship you. Thank you for reminders to do that. Amen
Reading: Psalm 22: 23-31 (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: All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. ~ Psalm 22: 27 Most days I ride the bus to and from work. As it comes to different stops along the way, a voice will announce: "Approaching Main", Approaching East", or, as it does just before my stop, "Approaching Church"...as in Church Street. I ring the bell, get off and walk to my house. It makes me smile every time I hear "Approaching Church" because I think, "What if everyone on the bus at this moment decided to get off and go to church?" The street is called Church Street because there six churches on it within three blocks. Plenty to choose from. The Psalmist celebrates God's goodness saying ALL shall remember, turn to the LORD and worship before him. Approaching Church? Stop here. We're all going to church! -- Ruth Gates Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on February 25, 2015.
Prayer: Bless our Moslem brothers and sisters today, O Lord. Reading: Romans 4:13-25 (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: …but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of of of us). v. 16 We easily remember Abraham’s son Isaac, born to Sarah very late in life. Too often we overlook Ishmael, Abraham’s first born conceived by Sarah’s servant, Hagar. It is a difficult story, I think. Ishmael was treated as a son with all the blessings and rights, until Isaac was born. Then Ishmael and Hagar were banished from the family in favor of Isaac. But not before Ishmael received his own promise from God. He, like Abraham, would be the father of a great nation. (Gen. 17:20). That great nation is today’s Arab world, our Moslem brothers and sisters who trace their heritage to Abraham, just as we Christians and Jews do. We are all the children of Abraham. Given the terror happening in our world, Ishmael is a reminder for us to love our Moslem brothers and sister. Some adherents to Islam reek horrible havoc in our world. But that does not indict all Moslems. Most are loving, caring, graceful sisters and brothers worthy of our respect and love. Let us today rejoice and give thanks for Hagar, Ishmael, Moslems and all who share the faith of Abraham. --Jim Bricker Prayer: As we walk through our lives, may we always know we are walking before you, Lord, and may we see signs of your love. Amen
Reading: Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16 (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 walk a lot. If it's within walking distance, I would rather walk than drive. I've heard it said everything is within walking distance if you have the time. This is true. The Lord appeared to Abram and told him, "Walk before me, and be blameless." (Genesis 17: 1) Mind you, Abram was 99 years old. I hope I am still walking at 99 and I hope I am still walking before the Lord watching for signs of His love. Sometimes when I walk, I pray. Sometimes when I walk, I am simply grateful to be able to walk distances short and long. All the time, we should remember we walk before the Lord. He gives us signs of his love...within walking distance. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, help us to de-clutter, avoid distractions, give our time and grow in you. Amen
Reading: Mark 8: 31-38 (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: If you want to effectively do the Lord’s work, you don’t need “stuff’. All you need is yourself and TIME. Use your time wisely. Time is more valuable than “stuff”. Turn off the TV. Put your smart phone in a drawer. These cold winter days it is so easy to withdraw….hibernate, if you will. For some, it is a depressing time. Others escape to football or basketball or this year the Olympics. Jesus tells us to rid ourselves of earthly pleasures. What a better time during these cold winter days than to clean out a closet or two or three and get rid of some of that “stuff’’. At the same time open the door of your heart to friends. Talk to them on the phone, send them a card, include a copy of a favorite poem or a quote from a book. Don"t just text! Share the humble pleasure of yourself and your time! While seeds lie dormant (and bears hibernate), let this be your own personal Grow Time! --Alice Yeakel On Fridays in February, we look at the scripture that our campers will be studying during Day 2 this summer of “Awesome God. Awesome Love.”
Prayer: Lord God Almighty, you are amazing, awesome and all wonderful. We love you and adore you. Everything we have and are, we owe to you. You alone are worth the effort of our praise. You, God are worth a deep dripping sweat of full hearted singing and dancing! Amen. Reading: Psalm 150 (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: Have you ever taken one of those inventories that tells you all the things that you can or can’t do? There are also tests and measures that tell you what careers would be a good choice for your gifts. I know in music education there is a kind of instrument test—you can go down through the line to see what you can play. Often, you start with what you think you might like to play or perhaps what a sibling played. For most people, there is an instrument or maybe a group of instruments that you can play, but others you simply cannot. Everyone has a different set of gifts. God made us this way. I like to call it guaranteed diversity. We need many people to make up a band, choir, orchestra, committee, congregation, ministry team, Camp Mount Luther, synod, church... This ancient set of lyrics reminds us of this principle. God is so great that God needs all of us and each of us to lift up our voice, mouth, or whatever makes music or joyful noise to God. These movements and actions connected to our gifts are what link up to our hearts. God surely does not only hear the sounds, but also the force of the life-breath pushing and returning in gratitude to its maker. Deeper than a popular song with a great beat, we are drawn to get up and (as they said in my younger dancing days) bust a move for the One who enables us to do whatever we can do. If you can’t sing, dance, or play an instrument, God still wants the movement of your heart! --Andrew Fitch Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on November 26, 2015.
Prayer: Thanks for remembering me lovingly, Lord. Reading: Psalm 25:1-10 (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: My memory is a little faulty at times. My wife is sure of that! Sometimes my memory is pretty good. But sometimes my sister remembers old family stories differently than I do. Hmmmmmm. There is so much to take from today’s psalm. Verse 7 sort of scares me--the idea that God might remember the sins of my youth. Oh, my. You have to hope God’s memory isn’t too good. But the same verse goes on: according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord! God’s memory isn’t faulty, I’m sure. If some memories from my teenage years cause me to shutter, surely God isn’t too happy either. But, isn’t this a wonder verse? That God’s memory is overlaid and infused with Love. God remembers us lovingly. And, just another idea for today—that thought says something about any grudges we might hold, doesn’t it? --Jim Bricker Prayer: We give you thanks, God, for the amazing and awesome love that you show us this day and every day. Amen.
Reading: 1 Peter 3:13-22 (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 the 1990s, singer Haddaway had a song called, “What is Love?” It was even spoofed a bit on Saturday Night Live. The next line of the song was “Baby, don’t hurt me no more.” I remember riding in the car one day and that song came on the radio and my dad said that was a good definition of love. Love is not hurting someone; rather, it is treating people well and showing a caring spirit. In our scripture reading for today, we are reminded of God’s amazing and awesome love for us. God showed that love through Jesus Christ. And, we see that love in how God deals with Noah. This summer, we are going to look at the story of Noah and how God showed awesome love to Noah and we are shown that love, too. On this Valentine’s Day when we celebrate love, make sure to thank God for the great love that God bestows on us. And be on the lookout where you see that love each and every day. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: God, may we look for your care and love revealed like the colors of sunlight in a rainbow. Amen
Reading: Genesis 9: 8-17 (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: God's covenant with Noah and every living creature was that never again (would) all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again (would) there be a flood to destroy the earth. (Gen. 9: 11). This covenant was marked by a symbol - the rainbow. Sunlight is made up of colors we don't usually see. When a beam of sunlight comes down to earth, the light is white but it is actually made up of colors. Those colors are revealed when the beams of sunlight separate as they enter a raindrop and a rainbow appears in the sky opposite the sun. Interesting how God chose the rainbow which reveals the unseen colors of sunlight as reminder of a covenant from God who is also unseen. All those colors are always there; God's love and care is always there, too. Standing in the rain, backs to the sun, look and there is the rainbow - colors revealed. Standing in our troubles, sometimes with our backs to God, look and there is care - Love revealed. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Help us, dear God, to reflect on you in this Lenten journey and do your works. Amen.
Reading: Mark 1: 8-15 (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: John the Baptist (Jesus’ cousin) introduces Jesus as being “far greater than I.” And then the Holy Spirit instructs Jesus to spend 40 days in the desert! What a letdown. How would you feel? No smart phone, no texting, no pizza, no ice cream. The exciting fact is that Jesus returns from the desert, meets Simon Peter and his brothers, and enthusiastically invites them to “follow me for I will make you fishers of men”. Can we compare Jesus time in the desert to our Lenten experience? Can we step back for forty days and reflect on what is really essential? As we approach Easter may we be filled with a renewed spirit of joy and enthusiasm to do God’s works. –-Alice Yeakel On Fridays in February, we look at the scripture that our campers will be studying during Day 2 this summer of “Awesome God. Awesome Love.”
Prayer: Mighty Counselor, help us to understand and see all the ways that you feed us, provide for us, and lead us to share our food with others. Amen. Reading: John 6: 26-40, 52-58 (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: There is a really comical scene in the movie, Over the Hedge, where the main character, RJ the raccoon, describes the way humans don’t eat to live, “they live to eat.” The phone become a thing to summon food. The doorbell is the sound of the arrival of food. People are called “couch potatoes,” and the mouth is called the “pie hole.” Near the conclusion of the rant about all of the ways that human life centers on food, he points the group to the table where a family is praying. He says that is the altar where they worship the food. The punchline comes when he asks the other animals if they thought the people have enough food. The answer is no, they don’t have enough; they have too much. When they are done with their food, they put it in gleaming silver cans just for the animals (trash cans)! It is a funny commentary on how much our lives revolve around food. In the Good News for today Jesus describes himself as the perfect answer to the endless pursuit for the next meal and the answer to reoccurring hunger. The answer is sacramental, spiritual, and providential. The purpose of Jesus’ life is not to eat but to be consumed. The only thing that Jesus really purposefully eats is death. All of him becomes endless leftovers for us to discover the true food and drink connecting us to life forever with our God. --Andrew Fitch Prayer: God, you are 24/7. Thank you for being near us always. Amen
Reading: Psalm 50: 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: When a person says they are doing something 24/7 - 24 hours a day/7 days a week - it's a message of non-stop work, responsibility, commitment, attention, effort, or whatever. That person just keeps going, going and going like the Energizer bunny, however, it is exhausting. God is 24/7. As the Psalmist writes, from dawn to dusk and all through the night, God speaks and acts in our world. Gently with love; fiercely in judgment. Calling those who are faithful. Comforting and challenging us. Securing and sending us forth. God is near us always. When faced with a 24/7 feeling in our lives, let's remember God is 24/7, too. -- Ruth Gates Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on February 11, 2015.
Prayer: Help us to shine our light before others. Amen. Reading: 2 Corinthians 4: 3-6 (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: This Sunday, the story of the Transfiguration features Jesus, shining brightly, white garments glowing. Jesus is our light. In our passage today from 2 Corinthians, we are reminded that light shines in darkness. Jesus revealed his glory to his disciples by way of glowing. His light shone and affected the disciples. Today, look for ways that you can let your light shine. How can you reveal Jesus through your actions and have them affected by what you do? --Chad Hershberger February 6, 2018: Elijah Ascends to Heaven (or, "Of course you are. And I'm going with you.")2/6/2018 Prayer: Lord, may we always go with you in our lives. Amen. Reading: 2 Kings 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? Reflection: I am so sorry but I am going to make another Lord of the Rings reference here. Just when Frodo Baggins, the keeper of the Ring of Power, decides it is best for him to go it alone to Mordor where the ring can be destroyed, Samwise Gamgee, his loyal companion catches up to him determined to go along. Frodo emphatically tells Sam, "I am going to Mordor alone!" to which Sam responds, "Of course you are. And I'm going with you!" (A statement which makes no sense at all.) I admit, the meaning of this moment is nothing if you have not read the Lord of the Rings trilogy or watched the movies (hence my apologies), but this is basically what was going on in our reading here about Elijah and Elisha. Three times Elijah tries to shake off Elisha but Elisha refuses to stay behind. Prophets were even telling Elisha that Elijah was going to be taken away but that did not deter Elisha from staying by Elijah's side. Basically, Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here. I am going to Bethel (alone)" and Elisha responded, "Of course you are. And I'm going with you." Have you ever been told to stay behind? Have you even been told that this is what is going to happen so you might as well give up? Welll, did you? Elisha didn't. Neither did Sam. Elisha, in the end, received a double portion of Elijah's spirit. Sam? Well, you'll have to read the books or watch the movie. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Amazing Lord, may our eyes be open to see the unbelievable and believe it anyway. Amen
Reading: Mark 9: 2-9 (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: Elijah and Moses appeared with Jesus before the disciples. Impossible, you say? Have you ever envisioned something? Were you ever told something, or shown something, and wondered, "How can this be?" Have you ever marveled when something almost unbelievable happens? Last Easter Sunday morning as we gathered in the cemetery for Sunrise service a bald eagle flew overhead landing in one of the big pine trees. Everyone stared in disbelief and for a moment the service came to a halt. Did that just really happen? Did you see that, too? Yes and yes. We were the disciples witnessing the unbelievable! And we believed it. --Alice Yeakel On Fridays in February, we look at the scripture that our campers will be studying during Day 2 this summer of “Awesome God. Awesome Love.”
Prayer: Lead us, God. Fed us, God. Show us your love. Amen. Reading: Exodus 14:21-29, 16:1-5 (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: No sooner had the Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt than they hit a dead end. The king's army was on their heels. The Red Sea was blocking their way. There was nowhere to turn. A dead end. But God, in awesome love, turns dead ends into new beginnings. God parted the waters, and the people walked to safety. Soon the people hit another dead end. Hunger. And again, God made a way an sent manna from above. In their despair, God led them. In their hunger, God fed them. And so it is for us. God's awesome love turns our dead ends into new beginnings. How has God led you in your life? How has God fed you? --ELCA Curriculum Prayer: When we think we have to be strong, remind us we need to love. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 147 (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 Lord is a God of strength and that is the focus of this Psalm 147. But verses 10 and 11 remind us that power is not what really impresses or pleases God. Instead, God wants to be in relationship with those who respond to his love. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of the runner; but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. The 2018 Winter Olympics are coming up soon. I am always in awe of the strength, speed and skill of the athletes. Yet, even more I am impressed with their love for their sport and determination to be and do their best. If medals were given for those whose hearts were in it 100%, more would receive Gold for sure. In our love for the Lord, who is strong and powerful, being in relationship...knowing His love, loving back and sharing that love with others...is Gold! --Ruth Gates |
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