Prayer: God who is and who was and who is to come, when things are hard to understand, help us remember what is constant is your presence. Amen.
Reading: Revelation 1: 4-8 (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 book of Revelation is a difficult one to understand. Someday I hope to dig in and study it. In the meantime, the four verses we read today should be manageable, right? So, I read them over and over...and over some more. This is what I noticed: The statement, (God) who is and who was and who is to come, is in there twice - in verse 4 and verse 8. And, yes, of course there are verses in between about seven spirits, clouds, tribes and wailing but I'm not going to get into that. At the beginning and at the end of something hard to understand in life, it would be good to remember God is there. He is there in the middle, too. Someday I will know what the spirits, clouds, tribes and wailing are all about. Someday there will be answers to the questions in life about our ups and downs, clouded days, relationships and tears. Today we are in the middle and God is there. He was there all the yesterdays and will be with us all the tomorrows; the Lord God who is and who was and who is to come. --Ruth Gates
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Prayer: Help us, Lord, to be Easter people. Amen.
Reading: Acts 5:27-41 (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: It is Easter Tuesday. We don’t usually hear many people refer to today as that, do we? The build-up from Lent into Palm Sunday and Holy Week, followed by Easter Sunday is over. If you were fortunate to have a day off yesterday, like me, today it’s back to reality in the work world. Or is it? Easter should change us. In fact, our readings for this Sunday remind us of that. We hear about Thomas, and of making joyful noise to the Lord. We read about Jesus coming in the future and hear this text about how the disciples spread the good news after Jesus’ rising. How to do you live as an Easter person? How do you live your life for our Risen King? What is different in your life, knowing that death has lost its sting and you are assured of eternal life? In this Easter season, let’s live in the good of the resurrection. Share the good news and let others know how God is a change agent and can make even the worst situation good. After all, Easter Sunday did come after Good Friday this weekend, didn’t it? --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear Jesus, may your story continue through our lives. Amen
Reading: John 20: 19-31 (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: Have you ever watched a movie and wished it would have been longer? A lot of what is filmed ends up on the cutting room floor. But if you really liked the movie you would watch more of it, even the parts that were cut. Maybe that is why out takes are sometimes played while the credits are rolling. The Gospel of John ends with, Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. (v. 30) Wait! What? There was more? More signs; more stories of Jesus! I want to see the outtakes. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. (v. 31) I guess what was written was enough to know. The rest is in our hearts by faith. There are no outtakes to know what else Jesus did. If the world needs to see more, we are the ones who have to show it in our lives. Roll the credits! --Ruth Gates Prayer: On this Easter Day, help us to see Jesus. Amen.
Reading: John 20:1-18 (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: “He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!” It’s Easter Sunday. The chorus of those words, the old familiar hymns, the spell of lilies and other flowers are all part of our celebrations this day. What a joy-filled day to remember that Jesus rose from the dead. For us! The disciples did not really understand at first what had happened. Our text today says as much that they didn’t quite fathom what transpired. But then, Mary saw Jesus. But she didn’t know who he was at first. It took a little bit of time to realize Jesus was there. Alive! Risen from the dead! Are there times in your life where Jesus is there, but you do not recognize him? There are many stories in scripture that we see that happening. I think particularly of the Road to Emmaus story, where Jesus wasn’t recognized until the breaking of the bread. Sometimes, it takes a look in our “rearview mirrors” to see how Jesus was with us in times when we didn’t really acknowledge his presence. As we begin the season of Easter, I challenge you to look for Jesus. Our Risen Lord is there with you, every step of the way. Announce to others, “I have seen the Lord!” Happy Easter! --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 August 14, 2013, and is presented as an additional devotion for Easter Vigil Saturday.
Prayer: Help us, dear Jesus, to live in the good of your promises. Reading: Romans 6: 3-11 (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: When we turn our lives over to Christ, we are assured many promises. All who are baptized share in the death and resurrection of Christ and are assured of eternal life. Jesus was nailed to the cross so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. We are also promised that we will live with Christ after our death. We should remember our baptism and the promises surrounded by it every day, but especially in this season when we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: As we look at the cross, help us see the good. Amen.
Reading: John 18:1 - 19:42 (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: It has been our tradition to read this long text on Good Friday for our digital First Light devotions. It is the end of the story of Jesus’ passion. It is what we commemorate this day. We hear the final words of Jesus, witness his death, and see him laid in the tomb. Each year, as I have prepared to write this devotion, someone has stood out to me in my reading of this story. This year, Peter is on my mind. I encourage you to re-read this text and reflect on one of the characters. It is a powerful way to look at scripture. Peter denies Christ three times, just as Jesus predicted. What struck me as I read this was that one of the people who recognized Peter was a relative of the man who lost his ear at Peter’s hand in the Garden of Gethsemane. I hadn’t picked up on that before. I also notice that after Peter denies Jesus and the rooster crows, we don’t see Peter in the rest of the story. What happened to him? Did he run? Did he not witness the crucifixion with his own eyes? What was going through his head? I may have some idea. When I was a youngster, my dad presented a monologue, portraying Peter. I got to see him do the performance a few times, including once at a Good Friday Father/Son Breakfast. What I remember about dad’s portrayal was that Peter was pretty emotional. And I think that interpretation was probably correct. Peter probably cried and felt anguish and was disappointed in himself that day. How could he have let that happen? How could he deny Christ? This day, stare at the cross. When are the times you have denied our Lord? When are the times that you have forgotten the great sacrifice that we remember today? How can you live in the good of the events of this Good Friday? --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear Jesus, near the end of your ministry on earth and the end of a particularly long week, you gave the commandment to love one another just as you loved us. May everyone know, by the love that we show, that we are your disciples and your story is not over. Amen
Reading: John 13: 1-35 (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 text today is rather long; almost all of the 13th chapter of John. It covers Jesus washing the disciples' feet to Jesus foretelling his betrayal to Jesus' foretelling Peter's denial. Many of us might be able to fill in the details of these events; retelling the stories we have heard many times over and over. This is what happened. The end. Or is it? One section in the middle is open-ended - a story which is given a beginning but meant to continue - (Jesus said,) "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." That is what continues - in the role of a servant as Jesus showed us by washing feet; in admitting the Lord knows our ways yet loves us as Jesus broke bread with even his betrayer; in realizing our faith tends to fall short like Peter's denial yet that is not the end of the story either. --Ruth Gates Prayer: We know you are with us, Lord, in our suffering.
Reading: Hebrews 4:14 - 5:9 (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: This Holy Week, several of our readings deal with the “Suffering Servant.” We are reminded that God understands our pain. Jesus came to this earth and suffered at the hands of his accusers. He suffered the pain of death. We remember that this week. As I write this, I have learned in the last day of two deaths of people who were loved by many. I know it is hard for their families and friends to know that they are gone. They are feeling the pain of losing someone for whom they cared. But, they also know that God walks with them in their sorrow. God knows their pain. Jesus suffered at the end of his earthly life. “Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” We’ll get to see that part of the story on Sunday! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Servant Lord, help us to understand what looks like defeat is actually a great victory. Amen
Reading: Isaiah 53: 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: Truth be told, I have read this passage over and over and just can't come up with anything to write. Frankly, it is a rather disturbing - all about the Suffering Servant. If you skipped over the "(Click to read text)" link, I ask you kindly to go back and actually read it. Lots of despised, rejected, suffering and infirmity talk. What to think? What to write? But a few words in there struck a chord, literally. A musical chord. Verse 6 - "All we like sheep have gone astray." brings to mind the chorus from Handel's Messiah. Read the words again, think a bit and the tune just might come to you. Got it? Sing it! If you don't know it to sing it, Google it. Listen carefully to the tune. Voice part by voice part comes in and out going all over this place with a tune that seems rather scattered. Like, um...sheep! Yeah, sheep going astray. There was the scripture text in word, music and concept! I am not sure when I first understood this musical interpretation of the Isaiah 53: 6 but it certainly stuck with me. So Sunday when our church organist suddenly went into minor key embellishments in the middle of a verse and I totally lost the tune and wondered why/how/what just happened, I looked back at the verse and the words were of suffering, sorrow and death. Ahhh, and the music took us there with the words and helped us understand --Ruth Gates Prayer: Thanks God for giving me the right to boast.
Reading: Romans 5:6-11 (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: Today’s text is an alternate story for day 3 of this summer’s camp curriculum, “La Frontera.” Things happen. And we ask, “So what?” Things happen. And we ask “Now what?” St. Paul must have wondered about Jesus’ death and resurrection. The church at Rome pondered those things. And we, too, might reflect anew on the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus. “So what?” Well, at least a part of the answer is that the death and resurrection is for us. Sinners and enemies that we are, God loves us and reconciles us. That’s what. “Now what?” Brag, boast, crow--in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. “Look what God has done and is doing!” God give us a lot to brag about. Have a great Holy Week. Boast in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Help us this week, O Lord, to keep our eyes on you.
Reading: Acts 13:26-33a (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’s text is an alternate story for day 3 of this summer’s camp curriculum, “La Frontera.” We are on the cusp of entering into Holy Week. This Sunday, as Chad reflected earlier this week, we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and remember the activities of the last week of his life. Our reading today sort of summarizes that week. More than that, it reminds what God did to conclude the activities of the week. As we enter Holy Week, it is good to be reminded of how it ends. Here’s a little summary of today’s text in my words. The world at its evil best did its damnedest. And God said, “Oh no you don’t. I’ll show you. Watch me.” It is a sad and weary celebration, Holy Week. But in the end we are blessed and graced by God. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Lord, this is the day you have made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Amen
Reading: Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 (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: How do you greet the day? One way would be to simply exclaim Psalm 118: 24 - This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Maybe you’ll do it quietly in your heart with that first cup of coffee (or tea) while others are sleeping. Maybe you’ll sing it in the shower if you know the tune and it just sounds better there. Maybe you’ll say it out loud as you go out the door and surprise the neighbors. It is hands down the best verse to start the day! Here is another idea: each time - silently, singing, or shouting - emphasize a different word. This is the day - not yesterday or tomorrow but today. This is the day - really it is! This is the day - a whole day to live. ...the Lord has made - give credit to the Lord. Let us rejoice and be glad - us, me, you, all together! Rejoice and be glad in it. - Concerns maybe but no complaints; or at least more rejoicing than whining. Rejoice and be glad in it. Maybe not for it but at least in it. We all know some days are better than others. If you can't rejoice for the bad day, at least try to be glad in it anyway. This is a way to greet the day! --Ruth Gates Prayer: Help us, Lord, to prepare our hearts and minds for next week as we meet you on the cross. Amen.
Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9 (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: I have mixed feelings about this Sunday. Growing up, my congregation always celebrated this Sunday as Palm Sunday. We received palms and waved them, recreating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. We sang songs like “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” and remembered the shouts of “Hosanna” in those streets. It was a glorious festival day, celebrating good times. In more recent years, I’ve been in congregations who recognize Palm Sunday but use it as “Passion Sunday,” reading the whole passion story. I’ve been uncomfortable with that, as I think, “That time will come. Let’s get to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil. Let’s not rush things. Let’s take this one day at time.” Then again, growing up, I was in church on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights of Holy Week. I heard the story of Jesus’ passion as it unfolded. I pondered each day. I only wanted to take it a day at a time, reflecting on each important event. These days, I’m sure that most people in Christian churches are not in the pew on those other nights during Holy Week. So hearing the passion story on Palm Sunday is important. We need to be reminded of this all-important story of our faith. In our verse today from Isaiah, we are reminded that Jesus did not shy away from the grim realities of this week. He faced it as it came. He did cry out to God to take away the cup if that was God’s will; but, it was not. And so this Sunday, when I got to church and hear the passion story, I will listen and remember, too. I will take the hard realities of this story and ponder them throughout the week. I will still remember each day of Holy Week and what happened, but I will also remember the whole picture. And, I will look forward to the story that I’ll hear the following Sunday as I once again celebrate the resurrection. “Hosanna in the Highest!” --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 24, 2013. Prayer: Be with us, Heavenly Father, as we journey toward the cross. 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: What is the best parade you have ever seen? When I ponder that question, I don't think I can come up with one answer but several parades do stand out in my mind. As a child, I saw the Hagerstown, Maryland, Mummer's Parade, which is a long parade with spectacular floats. At Disney World, I've seen the Light Parade, which is very nice. The Penn State Homecoming Parade for me is also a grand old parade with lots of floats and musical acts. Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was also a parade of sorts. Crowds gathered and spread cloaks and palm branches on the roadway. Instead of riding in a float, waving to the crowd, Jesus rode a donkey. "Hosanna to the Son of David," they cried. "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." The first day of the week, Jesus was treated like a king, riding into the city. By the end of the week, the king would be wearing a crown of thorns on His way to Calvary. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: We praise you, Lord, while some might want us to be quiet. May it be that even if we were silenced, there would still be praises heard. Amen
Reading: Luke 19: 28-40 (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 is riding into Jerusalem on a donkey and the crowds are shouting praises. The Pharisees would like things to settle down so they ask Jesus to quiet them. But Jesus says if the people weren't shouting, the stones would. The truth that Jesus is Lord is so obvious and so powerful even rocks would know and proclaim it! Rocks! Really? Sounds impossible yet there have been times at Camp Mount Luther when the breeze in the trees, the calls of the birds, the drone of the insects and the crackling of the campfire sound very much like praises to me. These are often silent times. Not that the Pharisees had gotten their way but simply because it is quiet in the woods...unless it is filled with young campers! Then it's right back to noise and praising! (Just to know, there is a time when a rock really does speak. That would be the Weather Rock at camp. If the rock is dry, it says it is not raining. If the rock is wet, it says it is raining. If the rock is warm, it says it is a warm day. If it is cold, it is a cold day. If the rock is in sunshine, it is a sunny day. If it is in shade, it is a cloudy day. Rocks really do say a lot!) --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to follow Jesus. 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: We continue today looking at this summer’s curriculum, “La Frontera.” Today’s text is an alternate story for Day 3. This is not an easy text. Jesus is on route to his crucifixion. He invites us to follow him. I say, “No, thanks,” and certainly not to death. But maybe we could be less self-centered and more thoughtful and caring about others. Maybe we could look outward to the needs of the world and look less inward to my needs. Maybe we could give up some frivolous things that others can have essential things. Maybe… Follow Jesus? What do you think? --Jim Bricker
Today is our annual participation is a regional online fundraising campaign. We are trying to raise $15,000 for the camp through this endeavor. We encourage our blog readers to donate to camp and support our mission of sharing Christ and planting seeds. "Raise the Region" continues until midnight tonight, March 10, 2016.
Prayer: Dear God, as we gather and reflect on your word, may we GROW and behold wondrous things. Amen
Reading: Psalm 119: 9-16 (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 will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Psalm 119: 16 I recently read about delighting in good things and the difference it would make. Relationships could be restored and brokenness brought back to wholeness. Often we simply find what what we are looking for - good or bad. If we keep to God's ways and remember his word in all we think and do, then like the Psalmist we would behold wondrous things. After reading the scripture texts for each GROW Time devotion, we are to ponder the questions above. Question 2. even asks specifically "What delights me in this text?" just as the Psalmist encourages us to do. And the more we read the Word, the less likely we are to forget it. I am grateful for those who write down their reflections and I am grateful for those who read them as we all GROW in our faith. Wondrous things are happening! --Ruth Gates Prayer: Help us, Heavenly Father, to put you first. Amen.
Reading: Philippians 3:4-14 (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: I could probably write a book about a friend of mine and his changing his ways a number of years ago to a more Christ-filled life. I’ve seen him go from someone who was focused entirely on himself to a person today is focused on God and how God directs his life. It’s been quite a change to watch happen over these many years. I thought of him when I read this passage. He truly looks to God and gives Christ the glory for all that happens in his life. Some days, I wish I could be more like that. Yes, I have faith. Yes, I trust in God. But there are times when it is an afterthought for me to pray about an important situation and seek God’s guidance. Sometimes I forget to live in the goodness of what Christ has done for me. As I read this passage from St. Paul and think about pressing onward toward the ultimate goal of a “heavenly call,” it is a good reminder to get my priorities straight. God should be first, not an afterthought. So, as I continue my journey on earth, I’m going to try to make God more of a first thought than an afterthought. Will you join me? --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 September 3, 2013.
Prayer: Pray for a new experience in your life. Reading: Isaiah 43: 16-21 (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? Other Questions to Ponder:
Reflection: I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. –Isaiah 43: 19 A room full of people. A Nerf baseball. A Nerf baseball bat. A couple of rubber bases. But it's raining outside! It's America's favorite pastime. But what do you do when it's dark and dreary and you want to play? Improvise. "Let's move all the furniture out on the porch," someone says. The room full of people mobilize themselves, turning a small room into a baseball diamond. For an hour or so, we played hardball. It's a most interesting game when played inside a small room. It's easy to get a home run (just hit the ball to the couch on the far wall). It's also pretty easy to get an out when all the players are within seven yards of you. We had a splendid time playing late that night. It was a new, unusual activity. And while none of us would be the next multi-million dollar star of a major league team, we enjoyed bonding and sharing a game of ball. New experiences are good. Meeting new people is exciting. Sometimes we get into a rut and resist change. But change can be good. It can rejuvenate us, refresh us, revitalize us. It can turn something drab into something exciting. It can also open many new doors, ones we never knew existed. Those doors may just lead us to something that could influence our lives forever. We opened the door one last time that night-- to replace the furniture and turn our baseball field back into a lounge. My team won, but it really didn't matter. We had experienced something new and had bonded in the process. We changed the typical American pastime into an unusual socialization experience that was not soon forgotten. Baseball seasons may end, but you can take me in to the ballgame anytime! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear Jesus, may we remember to love you extravagantly when we have the chance. Amen
Reading: John 12: 1-8 (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: Pretty smelling soaps and lotions are such a treat and so popular. There are whole stores for just such things. Such an extravagance! So many scents it is hard to choose a favorite. The best I can do is have a different favorite for different seasons. I have a springtime favorite and recently got it out so the aroma could convince me spring is just around the corner. There are still patches of snow on the ground but the sun is shining brighter, warmer and longer these days. Time for Sea Island Cotton! Only problem was, that bottle of lotion must have been around for too many years and, after putting it on, I realized the good smell had gone bad. I could barely stand myself. Lesson learned. Pretty smelling lotion does not last forever. Use it when you have the chance. Mary anointed Jesus with costly perfume and the fragrance filled the house. Judas Iscariot criticized her for the extravagance when the money could have been used for the poor. (Truth be told, Judas was prone to stealing from the common purse so chances are the poor would not have received anything.) Jesus simply told Judas to leave Mary alone. She was serving her Lord by anointing his feet with perfume as she would do the same again at his burial. The poor would always be with them but not Jesus. Use it when you have the chance. Let's not hold back in our love for the Lord. Let's use the gifts we have to serve when we have the chance. --Ruth Gates Prayer: This day, help us God to gaze upon the work done on the cross. Amen.
Reading: Acts 10:34-48 (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: With a new month upon us, it’s time to look at Day 3 of this summer’s curriculum. “La Frontera” will explore where we meet Jesus and on Wednesdays during camp, we’ll look at how Jesus meets us on the cross. On this day we learn that through the cross we receive grace, hope, and forgiveness. We are joined together at the cross and are called to share these gifts of the cross with others. It’s important to understand that this is a gift from God. We need only accept God’s gift. These gifts become a way to “cross” all boundaries. Therefore there is no boundary God cannot cross over. What boundaries do we need to cross in our own lives? Are there people we need to reach out to in forgiveness and grace? Are there places we must go to show the message of the cross? As our campers contemplate similar questions, I hope you, too, will look at how Jesus meets us at the cross and how we need to reach out to others with that good news! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Lord, help us turn to you when it seems things aren't right. Thank you for forgiving our sins and restoring our joy. The assurance of your counsel then leads us forward surrounded and preserved in your love. Amen
Reading: Psalm 32 (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: Some days it just seems something is wrong. Can't put a finger on it but the unsettled feeling is there and I can't shake it off. All is not right with the world. Well, of course it isn't! We live in a broken, hurting world and we are a broken and hurting people. Time to turn to the Psalms. Quickly. Particularly to any Psalm which starts with, "Happy are those who..." and Psalm 32 happens to be one of them. According to this Psalm, there is joy in forgiveness. By keeping silent, we end up groaning all day long. (v. 3) When we acknowledge our sin, there is forgiveness. (v. 5) This Psalm also assures us the Lord will preserve, surround and counsel us. That can turn any day around. --Ruth Gates Prayer: God, help us to see others in new ways. Amen.
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (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: It’s hard to forget the past. The collection of memories that we have sticks with us, especially of people who’ve been part of our travels. That’s why I have a problem with the phrase, “Forgive and forget.” I can be forgiving, but it is hard to forget what happened. This scripture reminds me that I need to forget. St. Paul tells us that we knew Jesus in human form but now we shouldn’t view him in that way. Instead, he has changed into something new. And, when we are reconciled with our fellow humans, we need to look at the new instead of the old. So, yeah, we need to forgive and forget. We see that this week in our Gospel reading. The father forgives the prodigal son. He sees him in a new way and doesn’t dwell on the past. He is ready to start anew. Who are you ready to start anew with this day? --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Give us today our daily bread, heavenly Father, and provide for all our needs. Amen.
Reading: Joshua 5:9-12 (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: This Lent, I’ve been reflecting more on the Lord’s Prayer. I try to pray it daily and often words in it strike me in new ways as I try to mediate on its contemporary meaning. In our story today, we are reminded of the Israelites who had finished their wanderings. God provided for them daily bread in the form of manna. But now, the manna stopped. And they could like off the land and harvest the crops of Canaan. In both cases, God provided. God provided manna. God provided crops in Canaan. God made sure the Israelites, God’s chosen people, had what they needed. And God makes sure we, as children of God, are provided for. Today, I challenge you to pray the Lord’s Prayer and think about the line, “Give us this day our daily bread.” What is the daily bread that God is providing for you? Give thanks to the Lord for all the good things God provides! --Chad Hershberger |
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