Prayer: Dear God, help us to hold firmly to the word we have been taught: the good news of the resurrection of Christ. Amen
Reading: I Corinthians 15: 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: This week is all about the last days of Jesus' ministry, his death and resurrection. We hear the story from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem to his rising from the dead along with the difficult, dark days in between. Perhaps the whole Passion story is read in your church Palm Sunday morning; surely each part is observed on each day Palm Sunday to Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday. Year after year only varying by the Lectionary series and particular Gospel account read. We have heard it again and again. Why? Paul knows why. In the 15th chapter of I Corinthians, after a dozen or so chapters of teachings about a variety of things, Paul brings us back to basics. He even emphasizes the utmost importance of it by saying, "I want to remind you...otherwise, you have believed in vain." Then he summarizes the good news of the resurrection of Christ in five verses. Why so important? Because by this gospel we are saved if we hold firmly to the word. Hold firmly every day to the message we hear this week every year. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper
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Prayer: Dear God, thank you for picking all of us as your favorites. Amen Reading: Acts 10: 34-43 (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: Bear with me as I connect today's reading with the March Madness NCAA Basketball Tournament. How? Then Peter began to speak, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." (v. 34, 35). So, out of all the college basketball teams, 64 are invited to "The Dance", as it is called. Then the bracket picking begins and everyone chooses their favorites of who is going to win at each step of the way from the original 64 teams to the Sweet 16 all the way down to the Champions! In each game, one team is the favorite to win by their predetermined rank. Still, personal favorites or favorites by ranking, it all comes down to each game. One team wins and goes on; one team loses and goes home. Single elimination - continue or done. Your favorites lose and your brackets are busted. Oh, the drama of March Madness! Well, I am certainly glad God does not have favorites. We are all invited to "The Dance"! Along the way we are going to do right and do wrong, win some and lose some. Honestly, who of us would make it to the Elite Eight, let alone the Final Four? The Good News is, by the grace of God, all of us get to go on in His love. God does not show favoritism but accepts us all! That is something to cheer about. Thanks be to God! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Help me to forgive, O Lord. Amen
Reading: Matthew 18:21-25 (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: Our Friday devotions this month look at Day 3 of our summer curriculum. This year, we will be studying “A Love That Never Ends,” looking at how five Old Testament heroes were shown love for God and learning how that love is part of our lives, too. On Wednesdays this summer, we will look at the story of Jonah. Jonah, of course, had a lot of trouble forgiving the people of the city of Nineveh. In fact, he did everything he could to avoid delivering God’s message to the town, because he just knew that God was going to forgive them. He just didn’t think that was right. “I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” (Jonah 4:2). Fast forward to Peter wondering if Jesus wouldn’t quantify this forgiveness thing. How often should I forgive? Seven times? Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? Jesus ups the ante: Seventy-seven times. Depending on how that is translated it could be seventy times seven times. 490? Wow, like that’s really a lot! Neither Jonah nor Peter got it. And we probably don’t either. It’s not a matter of how often we are to forgive. It’s not really about justifying forgiveness or not forgiving. It’s about a God whose very being is forgiveness. It’s about being a forgiver. It’s about our very being--a forgiven forgiver. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on April 10, 2014..
Reading: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (Click to read text) O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 118 begins and ends with those words. And in between the psalmist over and over again gives thanks for the victory God has given the king. As we celebrate Easter, there will be ample opportunity to give God thanks: at each meal, in worship, during minutes we spend gathering and reflecting on God's Word, and those numerous times when we experience God in nature and each other. All because the resurrected Christ lives among us. Today, as you experience God in your life--in people, in a task, in a sound, a thought, a picture, a meeting, a meal, an idea, a disagreement—take just a moment to say out loud or quietly O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: In the coming days, Lord, may we be renewed and rededicated to doing work in your name. Amen.
Reading: Philippians 2: 5-11 (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: Next week is Holy Week. It is a somber time in the church year, as we walk with Christ from the shouts of “Hosanna” as he enters Jerusalem to the cries of his followers on the hill called Golgotha. On Sunday, we will hear the story of Jesus riding into the city on a donkey. Many churches will also read the entire passion story as we begin this solemn week. It’s also a busy time for clergy in our church. Being the spouse and son of pastors, I know that it is a week of hectic schedules and many things to get ready for and lead. In the midst of this solemn but busy time for them, it is tradition to hold a Chrism Mass. It’s usually held on the Tuesday of Holy Week. The Upper Susquehanna Synod has an annual observance of this service, when ordained folk rededicate themselves to the vows they took when they were ordained. Some may think, “Why do something like this on one of the busiest weeks of their work year?” That question was asked to some pastors and many of them responded that they like having it that week because it forces them, in the midst of the busy-ness, to take some time out for their own personal reflection. The text that we read today was read at my installation as executive director of Camp Mount Luther. Recently, when I heard this passage, I was reminded of the promises I made that day in 2001. Hearing those words helped me to renew my pledge to do the work I do to the best of my ability. It is good to be reminded of the promises we made before God and others. What are some of those promises that you made that you need to rededicate yourself to doing in the not-so-distant future. As we remember the promises God made during Holy Week, may we also renew ourselves to service in God’s name. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Dear God, instruct our tongues to speak your Word and words that instruct the weary. Amen
Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-9a (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 Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that instructs the weary. Isaiah 50: 4a Oh, do I ever need this verse; especially the first part of it: a well-instructed tongue. Saying the right thing at the right time and not saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Imagine. No more open mouth and insert foot. That would be good for all of us, surely. Let's look at the rest of the verse: to know the word that instructs the weary. Now there is truly a gift. Are you weary? I certainly am at times but the right words can go a long way in strengthening the body, lifting the spirit and encouraging the heart. The weariness is overcome and we carry on. What kind of word instructs the weary? An offer of help to someone struggling alone. A greeting to a tired cashier. An expression of care to a person who is hurting. What is the Word that instructs the weary? The Word that says God loves us and we are to love others. That is the Word to say to all. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who come in the name of the Lord." Come into our hearts, Lord Jesus. Amen
Reading: John 12: 12-16 (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: This may sound odd but as a child the first Sunday of Advent was strangely similar to Palm Sunday. How? On both Sundays we sang the same hymn,"Hosanna", which has a tricky leading part and echo, split men and women, with harmony no less! We just rolled into it; no directions, no sweat. Much like getting swept up into the Canticle round from Holden Evening Prayer. So, growing up, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" was heard as much to begin the Advent time of waiting for Jesus to be born as it was for Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem to start Holy Week. Makes me think everyday we could be proclaiming Hosanna, right? Yes, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Come into our hearts, Lord Jesus. Every day. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Thanks for your gifts, O God. Amen
Reading: Romans 3:22b-24 (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: Our Friday devotions this month look at Day 3 of our summer curriculum. This year, we will be studying “A Love That Never Ends,” looking at how five Old Testament heroes were shown love for God and learning how that love is part of our lives, too. On Wednesdays this summer, we will look at the story of Jonah. My mother taught that you never return a pie pan empty. If your neighbor brings you a pie, eat it, enjoy it, but don’t return the pie pan empty. Can’t do that. You have to give a gift back. I understand that. But, somehow along the line I learned that you can just eat the pie as a gift and not feel obligated to give something back. Because, I think, too often we fill the pie pan before we return it as a way of being worthy of the pie in the first place. Following me? I think we have a great deal of difficulty understanding God’s grace-gift, because we have difficulty with the idea of gift. Gifts are free. If not, then it’s not a gift. St. Paul says it rather succinctly. Sinner, justified. By grace—a gift. There’s not much more to say. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Restore to me, God, the joy of your salvation as I remember how I am washed and cleansed by you. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 51: 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: Wash and cleanse. Those two words, in the opening verses of today’s passage, stood out to me as I read this text. My kids love bath time. My two-year-old son loves to splash in the water. My daughter loves the bath paints we have that she can be creative on the sides of our tub. When the kids are in the bath, they like to lie down in the water and enjoy the cleansing it provides. They are even pretty cooperative when we have to dump water over their heads to wash out the shampoo. I’m sure the youngest kiddo doesn’t understand the significance of the water his baptism. I know my daughter does. When she had her birthday party at camp in December, some of her friends were at the water foundation in the lobby of the Evergreen Center. They were playing with the water and she made the sign of the cross on her forehead with the water. She told her schoolmates, “That’s what we do at church!” Today, look for ways that you are washed and cleansed by God. How does God create in you a clean heard and put a new and right spirit within you? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Lord, listen to your children as they pray and cry out to you. Amen.
Reading: Hebrews 5: 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: In less than three weeks, it will be Easter. Joy will come in the morning following our Lenten journey. The time of penitence and somber days of this church season will be history for another year. Our scripture readings during this season also have been talking about Jesus’ journey on earth. Today, as we read this passage, we are reminded that just as we do, Jesus offered up prayers to God. Sometimes those prayers included loud cries and tears. Because Jesus was God’s son, God listened to those cries. It reminds me that as we cry out, God hears us. God hears what we want. God may not always answer our prayers the way we want God to answer them, but often the answer is even better than we imagined. God has a way of helping things work out just as they ought to work out. When you cry out in prayer, know that God is listening. O Lord, hear my prayer! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Thank you, God, for not only forgiving but also forgetting our sins. Help us to remember your gracious love and share it with others. Amen
Reading: Jeremiah 31: 31-34 (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: For (the Lord) will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. --Jeremiah 31: 34 Just recently with college housemates I had not seen in years, I recalled things the others had forgotten. In my family I am like a historian. Major to miniscule, I remember everything...or at least a lot more than the others. This can be a fun, good thing or a difficult, bad thing. Good for the good times enjoyed again in retelling; bad for the bad times when recalling brings back grudges. Well, as a friend and I often say, "It's a good thing God is God and I'm not." The good news in Jeremiah is that the Lord forgive and forgets our sins. More good news: God can change us from the inside out, putting his law in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. He is our God and we are His. Now, that is something to remember! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer:
Oh, the Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord; for giving me, the things I need; the sun and the rain and the appleseed. The Lord is good to me. Amen Reading: John 12: 20-33 (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: (Jesus said,) "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12: 24 You can count how many seeds there are in one apple but you cannot count how many apples are in one seed. Think about it. One apple has a certain number of seeds. But one seed planted and grown into a tree produces countless apples with seeds each of which can produce more countless apples. Jesus, predicting his death, explains when a kernel of wheat falls to the ground, it dies but produces many seeds. Let's say countless seeds same as the appleseed. Jesus knew he would soon be gone but the seeds of faith planted in his followers were growing and would produce more seeds and so on and so on. Johnny Appleseed, a man of faith, knew that about the appleseeds he planted. We know that about the seeds of faith we scatter. The next time I sing that familiar, favorite camp grace, I will remember we aren't just talking apples! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Amen
Reading: Proverbs 3:5-6 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: As Chad mentioned last week, our Friday devotions this month look at Day 3 of our summer curriculum. This year, we will be studying “A Love That Never Ends,” looking at how five Old Testament heroes were shown love for God and learning how that love is part of our lives, too. On Wednesdays this summer, we will look at the story of Jonah. Did you find a rock, last Friday, as Chad suggested? Were you reminded about someone who needs your forgiveness? Did the rock in your pocket remind you of God’s love for you? These are difficult things. There are people we just do not want to forgive. And it is sometimes very difficult for us to remember and believe that we are forgivable and forgiven. Because we are not God, we tend to live following what we have learned, our insights on life. And those insights make forgiveness problematic for us at times. But today we are encouraged to trust in the Lord and to not rely on our own insight. As we are able to do that, we find a God who forgives far more than we would and the gift of forgiveness becomes real. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: God, you are the love that endures forever and the one we should remember first. Help us to depend on you. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22 (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: I was just reading this morning a story about a person who lacked confidence. He lacked that confidence because his father, who was an upstanding man in their community, had an affair which tore apart his family. The son felt that he could not do anything because eventually he may go down the same path as his father. He had looked up to his father so much. A wise person in the son’s life pointed out to him that he was depending more on his father than on God. If he depended on God, the son could have confidence and forge a different path than his father. When I read that story, I was reminded that too often we think we can do it ourselves or depend on earthly people for our only lens of living life. But we should be depending on God. God can help us do anything, even when we lack the confidence. It is God who we should put our trust in! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Camp Mount Luther is participating in Raise the Region, a 30-hour regional fundraising campaign. We hope that as readers of our daily devotions, you might be compelled to support our ministry through this endeavor. As of 9:30 a.m., we raised over $8,300. Last year during this effort, we raised $12,000. We'd love to break that mark by midnight tonight. To donate, visit www.raisetheregion.org. We sincerely thank you for your support!
Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on October 30, 2013.
Prayer: Help us, Lord, to live in the good of your grace. Amen. Reading: Ephesians 2: 8-9 (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: When Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic Church, his biggest argument for the Reformation was that it is through grace that we are saved, not by good works. Grace is unconditional. God saves us because God loves us, not because of anything we can do. To his contemporaries, Martin Luther probably was going off "the deep end." The teachings of Luther went against what they had been taught in their church. Luther suffered great persecution because of what he said. But what he was was true. We are justified by faith. As Christians, we should engage in good deeds to glorify God, but they are not required of us to receive salvation. No earthly acts will get us to heaven. All we need to do is believe and accept God's riches that are so freely given to us! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Dear God, help us to look squarely at that which frightens or hurts us so we may grow in strength rather than wallow in impatience and complaining. Amen
Reading: Numbers 21: 4-9 (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: The Israelites were complaining...again. Impatient with the round about journey, thirsty and tired of the same old food. Why did you bring us out here in the wilderness to die? Moaning and groaning until...the snakes arrived. Mind you, they were asking Moses why he brought them into the wilderness to die but they weren't dying yet...until the snakes arrived. Oh the Israelites, contrite and requesting now, pray the Lord will take the snakes away from them! Well, God did not take the snakes away. Instead, he told Moses to make a snake and put it on a pole. Anytime anyone was bit by a snake, look at the snake on the pole and live. It worked. Of course it did! We moan and groan about this or that and then a big, bad something happens and puts everything in perspective. Take it away, God! But that doesn't always happen. Sometimes we have to look right at what is plaguing us. By the grace of God, yes, God is with us. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Dear God, help us to hear your words of grace louder than the noise of world. Amen
Reading: John 3: 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: We all know John 3: 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. So ingrained that I could not type out the NIV version but reverted to old-time language. So well known that simply 3: 16 on a handmade sign at a sporting event or on a billboard by the road will bring the familiar verse to mind to many. So let's move on to the next verse: John 3: 17. It's a continuation of the same idea but perhaps less known unless your Sunday School teacher was more ambitious with memory verses. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. There are so many condemning voices in the world. So many messages of doom and gloom come at us all the time. And oh it is so easy for us to spread or own criticizing and despairing thoughts. Not to mention the negative self-talk that can go on and on in our own heads! Condemnation. Quiet all those voices within and without. Repeat these verses over and over. Hear a message of love, giving, believing and everlasting life. Good thing we know these by heart! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Help us, God, to forgive as you forgive us. Amen.
Reading: Jonah 4: 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: As we begin a new month, we also turn on Fridays to a look at Day 3 of our summer curriculum. This summer, we will be studying “A Love That Never Ends,” looking at how five Old Testament heroes were shown love for God and learning how that love is part of our lives, too. On Wednesdays this summer, we will look at the story of Jonah. Today, I’d ask you to ponder this story and answer the following questions:
If you have a chance today, go on a walk and look for rocks. Bring your rocks home. Then, think of someone who you should forgive. Carry this rock in your pocket for a day as a reminder of God’s forgiveness. At the end of the day, share a prayer, thanking God for forgiving us and asking for help in forgiving others. And think about how this lesson will be used this summer to teach our campers to forgive others as God forgives them. –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 October 2, 2014.
Prayer: Help your Word be a light to my path, o Lord. 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: Ever read a Bible passage and go, "Huh?" That's what happened to me today when I read this Psalm. I was particularly struck by verse 2 which says, "...night to night declares knowledge." And I thought, "What does that mean?" And then I thought of all the reading I've done in my lifetime at night. I like to read before bedtime and have done that since I was very young. I can remember cuddling up to a book under my covers when I was in elementary and middle school. I've been told that when you study for a test, you'll remember the information more if you read it right before you sleep. Once, I even tried to put a book under my pillow, hoping the knowledge would come into my mind by osmosis! So, I guess it is appropriate that David reminds us that we get knowledge in the night. There are lots of good lessons to learn after the sun goes down. What have you learned in the dark? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: God, help us to see beauty in the cross. Amen.
Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (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: In our passage for today, St. Paul tells us, “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” When I read this, I thought, “So what does the cross mean to me?” I ask you that question, too. Is the cross something that you wear around a chain on your neck? Is it something you see in the front of your church? Is it something you find in hidden places, like tree trunks and limbs, the panes of windows, or other places? Or, does it mean a lot more. Today, I encourage you to think about what the cross means for you. Are you bold enough to say with Paul, “the cross is the power of God!” --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Heavenly Father, we have learned your commands from pastors, teachers and friends. May our love for you be evident in how we live our lives and obey your laws. Guide us to follow our hearts to you. 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: I was truly stumped with what to write about The Ten Commandments. Fortunately, my other daily devotion, the Moravian Daily Text, saved the day with Saturday, February 28th's scripture verses, hymn stanzas and even the prayer. Honestly, I was procrastinating starting my writing by reading something else and, lo and behold, there was exactly what I needed. So, please accept my simply sharing: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8 (NRSV) O teach us all your perfect will to understand and fulfill: when human insight fails, give light; this will direct or steps aright. In fact, this is love for Good: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. I John 5:3 (NIV) Who in Christ find greatest treasure and upon his grace depend; who but want to do his pleasure, just fulfilling his commands; who to Jesus humbly cleaving pay obedience to his word, who in closest union living with our Savior, Head and Lord. (from the Moravian Daily Texts 2015, Interprovincial Board of Communication, Moravian Church of North America) --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Dear God, when you turn the tables in life, help us see how at times we are either sellers or buyers truly in need of your gift of your Grace. 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: Just ask my family. I am not a shopper. And I especially don't like to feel like I am being targeted, manipulated or brainwashed to buy anything. So, I would have been right there with Jesus turning over the tables and driving the sellers out of the Temple. Or at least cheering him on. Or would I? Might I have been one of those sellers? Have I ever held anyone to a certain expectation of what it takes to be right with God? Not that I have anything to sell, mind you, but have I ever tried to make someone "buy into" what I think is the right way to live or to worship? Might I have been one of the buyers? Have I ever felt like I just didn't measure up to God's expectations? Have I thought I need to be more or do more to stay in good graces with God? Ah, there is the key word: Grace. God's love can't be bought or sold. Just let God love you and everyone. And you? Simply love God; love others. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper |
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