Prayer: As often as we are told to listen, may we hear your voice, Lord. Amen
Reading: Psalm 81: 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: “Listen to me.” “If you will only listen.” “My people won’t listen.” “O that my people would listen.” Four times in the first 13 verses God implores us to listen. Today God still pleads with us to "listen.” We need to listen to God and pay attention to God’s words and warnings. I awoke this morning and heard a bird singing outside my window even though it was cloudy and drizzly. What a joyous sound! God speaks to us in so many ways. Take heed. Obey! -- Alice Yeakel
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Prayer: We are clay jars filled with treasure. Maybe not so much to look at on the outside but it is what is inside that counts. Fill us with the powerful treasure of your Gospel so we may share your love with others. Amen
Reading: 2 Corinthians 4: 5-12 (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: A red clay pot is not fancy but it is perfect for growing fancy flowers. What the pot looks like doesn't really matter. What is growing in it is what is most important. Sure garden centers sell fancy pots but they don't do any better of a job growing plants than an ordinary pot does. In fact, one might say they take some of the attention away from the miracle and beauty of the flower growing. So it is with us. We are simply clay jars. Nothing fancy but we hold the powerful treasure of the Gospel. Perhaps some people are fancier than others but that is not where the attention is to go. The real miracle and beauty is in what grows from the treasure we hold and share - God's love. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Thank you for a day of rest as we certainly need it. May we remember to keep it wholly holy. Amen
Reading: Deuteronomy 5: 12-15 (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: My to-do list is a mile long. It lasts the week and always carries over to the next. But one thing I try is to only do spiritually wholesome tasks on a Sunday as I try to keep the Sabbath wholly holy. I have noticed it truly makes a difference in my week. I happen to be writing this GROW Time devotion early on a Sunday morning. I could be writing my grocery list but I will save that for breakfast time tomorrow. Not going to the grocery store this afternoon if I can help it. I also hope to write a few caring cards today, some “thinking of yous” and some thank yous. I may have to do some "worky" things from my to-do list today but I will try to see the holiness in the tasks. Andy will come home from scout camp with laundry. I will be thankful for the new dryer that doesn't squeak, is more energy efficient and certainly safer than the 30 year old one it replaced. And I will honor the time Andy spent in service to others over the weekend. With worship, rest and wholesome to-do list tasks, Sabbath is kept wholly holy. Some Sundays go better than others at that. All I know some Mondays go better than others, too, and it may have something to do with the Sunday before. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord of the Sabbath, help us to know when to rest and to make it part of our normal schedule. Help us use that time, also, to spend in prayer with you. Amen.
Reading: Mark 2: 23-3:6 (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: Today is Memorial Day. It’s a holiday! On holidays, when we are off work, we have time to enjoy things we may not always have time to do. This coming Sunday, staff training starts. I try to take it easy during the Memorial Day holiday weekend so that I can rest up for the intense two weeks of training and the other two months of the summer camping season. I have learned that I need a few days before the onslaught to prepare my body for the busy-ness of summer. These two stories in our Bible verses today remind us that Sabbath is important. We need time to rest and refresh ourselves. Our staff will have “re-creation” time during training so they can regroup, rest, and get ready for the rest of the day’s activities. What do you do to take a rest? Is God part of that time? I often like to take a walk and pray to regroup or relax. Make it a priority of take care of yourself and to make time for God each day. --Chad Hershberger On Fridays in May, we look at the scripture that our campers will be studying during Day 5 this summer of “Awesome God. Awesome Love.”
Prayer: Awesome God, you are more powerful than anything in my ordinary surroundings. Loving God, you choose to love me and guide me this day in your presence. You know what I am about to say before I can even say it. So, I take a moment for you to listen to my heart and for me to be still in you and your awesomeness…Amen. Reading: Matthew 10: 17-31 (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: The subtitle in my Bible for this text says, “Fear God, Not Man.” Easy for you to say, I thought. Yet, Jesus’ words when I read them again are more startling. Do not fear those who can kill the body versus the One who can kill body and soul and send it all to Hell! I prefer the God who redeems me and sends me to the Great Beyond where there are fluffy clouds, pearly gates and streets of gold. Our God is a God of action, truth and power. I am timid. I feel quite unable to even look upon this superhero of all superheroes. That’s really it, isn’t it—I am able to relate in my imagination. I like action movies. I like superheroes with their incredible abilities. A guilty pleasure is watching movies like Die Hard or Indiana Jones. In them the hero can say things like, “Well then I’ll see you in hell!” as he banishes an enemy. They don’t worry or wonder about matters of faith. They just do it. They just kill the bad guy. Back to real life. I think this means I have to speak up when someone says something that is against God or the Kingdom. I can’t let a racist remark slide. I can’t let someone denigrate women or objectify them. I have to stand up for LGBTQIA+ persons. I can’t be afraid of someone who may have power over me in the here and now. God is an awesome God and is over all. --Andrew Fitch Prayer: As we go through storms in life, thank you for the strength and peace you bless us with. Amen
Reading: Psalm 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: Psalm 29 describes the Lord in a stormy way - thunder, mighty waters, breaking cedars, flashing flames, shaking the wilderness, whirling the oaks and stripping the forest bare. And in his temple all say, "Glory!" (v. 9) Yes, we are to worship the LORD in holy splendor. (v. 2) In the stormy times of life, watching things go from calm to all whipped about, it may be hard to remember to worship. But it's like everytime there is a thunderstorm, if I can, I listen for its coming, watch through its heavy winds and downpour and wait until it tapers away. Feeling strength in the storm and peace in its passing. God sits above all this and we worship and say, "Glory!". Our hope is the strength he gives and the peace he blesses us with. -- 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 July 16, 2014.
Prayer: Listen to our groans, God. Amen. Reading: Romans 8: 12-25 (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 text today tells us that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now. I've seen the pains of labor up close twice in my life. It's not the most pleasant thing to witness. But it is bearable because in the midst of a woman's labor, you know that something good is coming. The birth of a baby is a miracle and is a beautiful thing to witness. Perhaps that's why Paul used this imagery for the Romans. It reminds us that something good and better is coming. Even in times that are unpleasant, we know that God is with us and will help us get to better times. Even though we can't see it, we can wait with patience for the "baby" God will deliver. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Here I am; send me, LORD. Amen
Reading: Isaiah 6: 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: Isaiah experienced quite a dramatic call from God to become a prophet. He had a vision of God in the temple - the Lord on a high and lofty throne, robe filling the temple, seraphs (imagine what you may) flying and calling, smoke, utter dismay at his unworthiness and sins blotted out by a burning coal to the lips. And after all that , the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?..." to which Isaiah answers, "Here I am; send me!" Most of us in finding and following our call have not been through anything quite like that, of course. If it was a call to a career, there was vocational school or college to go to with all the classes, assignments and exams to prove oneself ready to do the job. After that, the search for a job...casting a wide net with applications with the message, "Here I am; I'll go to work for you!" All of us, like Isaiah, have a call from God. All of us are to love God and love others. How each of us do that might be a bit different but we can all have the same answer: "Here I am; send me!" -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Gracious Lord, thank you for all you have given us. We especially thank you for your Son who was sent to earth to save us. May we spread the news of this salvation to all. Amen.
Reading: John 3: 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: Nicodemus was a Pharisee that wanted to understand who Jesus was, but he had to hide his interest from other Jewish leaders. Nicodemus was a faithful Jew, but also a searcher and scholar. Jesus responded to his questions honestly and with great depth. We can learn from Nicodemus and ask questions also. We are still being faithful and true to God. I believe questioning is how we can make our faith grow so we should not be afraid of questions. If Nicodemus did not seek out Jesus to question him then we would not have gotten the famous verse John 3:16. It is also helpful to follow that up with the next verse too. So I leave you with this: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. --Charlene Rineer On Fridays in May, we look at the scripture that our campers will be studying during Day 5 this summer of “Awesome God. Awesome Love.”
Prayer: Almighty One, you are over all and you guide enemies to find each other as friends. You turn our self-defeating purposes into meaningful living for the fruitful growth of community. You enliven our faith to make bold decisions and actions of sound ethics. For all that you are and all that you do for us, we give you deepest thanks. We ask for your continual prodding and poking to keep us on your good path. Amen. Reading: Galatians 1:12-17 (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: The past can haunt us. Head in hands, wringing to turn back What was still clings Like those chiggers on pantlegs Picking them off one by one Tug and pinch, prickles and snags That one pulled three times until it was clear Crunch of shoes on gravel and salt left over from winter To each door, wound, hurt Not enemies, not slaves to hatred No longer a heart preaching wrong Rebuffed and turned away I will come back What’s wrong with being good?! Did you really prefer me when I was mad, mean, wrong? New love, new hope, new zealous For all the right things Born anew above, alrighted – for Almighty --Andrew Fitch Prayer: Creator God, we marvel at your wonderful work. Glorious are the oceans, mountains, meadows, and forests. We praise you for all you have given us. May the glory of the Lord abound in our lives forever. AMEN.
Reading: Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b 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 a huge fan of taking walks by the ocean, in the mountains, and at camp. I love the sights, sounds, and smells. It is marvelous how what all God created works together. The many and various creatures are fun to look for. I like seeing the creatures scamper through the forest, or in the dunes. One thing I do not like to see is the trash that is scattered in the dunes. One of the walks I take twice a year is on a road side picking up trash. I can marvel at the creation all around me, and also tend it by keeping it litter free. As the Psalmist honors God in his writing/songs so we too can honor God in our songs and writings. We can also honor God by taking care of what God has created so it is around for others to enjoy. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: We wait patiently with hope asking for your guidance and help always. Amen
Reading: Romans 8: 22-27 (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: "Hope that is seen is not hope." (Romans 8:24 KJV) The text continues in verse 25 telling us if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Here lies the confusion, or perhaps we could say, the challenge. Do we merely wait? For example, if we are sick, should we just lay and bed and hope to get better...waiting patiently? Or should we work, striving toward whatever goal or dream we are hoping for? If we merely wait, we may never achieve that goal. As we work, waiting for results, we need to also pray for God's guidance and help. Patience may come in handy here, yes, but there is always hope. -- Alice Yeakel Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on June 3, 2014..
Prayer: Blow in our lives, Lord, and help us to see the Spirit. Amen. Reading: Acts 2:1-21 (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: When the Spirit of God is first introduced in the Genesis creation stories we encounter the Hebrew word RUACH: wind, spirit, breath. It swept across the earth. And we hear of that wind again in today’s scripture “a sound like the rush of a violent wind.” And, Luke tell us, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.” How might we experience the Holy Spirit today? I hope there is a breeze (not a violent wind) to remind us that the Holy Spirit stirs among us. Sing with me: Spirit, Spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness calling and free; Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea. (With One Voice 684, Evangelical Lutheran Worship 396) --Jim Bricker Prayer: Open our minds to comprehend and believer, dear God. Amen.
Reading: John 15: 26-27; 16: 4b-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: Jesus so often predicted what would happen before it did. In our story today, he does it again. “I’m going to send the Spirit to you,” he says. “It will be after I am gone.” I bet the disciples really didn’t believe him or maybe they just didn’t comprehend. But his word was true. Which reminds me: when do we maybe not believe or comprehend and yet the Word is true? --Chad Hershberger On Fridays in May, we look at the scripture that our campers will be studying during Day 5 this summer of “Awesome God. Awesome Love.”
Prayer: Christ Jesus, you warm our hearts with your continual friendship and care. It is amazing and awesome that you chose to be in relationship with us so intently and intensely. Help us and guide us to be a good friend to you and to all those around us. Teach us to endure in love and faithfulness. In your great name, we pray. Amen. Reading: John 15:11-17 (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: It is hard for me to say that I see how the sacred words of Jesus were ever used to justify or endorse slavery. If you cut and paste or ignore and pick words and phrases you could water down Jesus’ radical words. You could totally miss the extreme contrast. We as true followers of Christ, seek to proclaim and witness to all the words of Jesus. I say this because we live in a time where being one hundred percent truthful all the time is not lifted up as a necessary for speaking persuasively. We live in a time where racial discriminations continue, in direct opposition to what Jesus calls us. The fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of John is a key part of the whole book that focuses on human love working to find a mirror to divine love. Jesus clearly turns down slavery as an opposite to living the way of following him. The disciples, followers and seekers are put into the same group. “if you want to be attached to me like I already am to you—know that I am not calling you slaves, but I call you friends.” He gives major insight into a difference—knowledge, inside knowledge, privileged information. Friends are not kept out of the loop. They have heard the teachings. They know what is to be done. The kingdom has not been withheld. Perhaps a practical ethic here is, “Don’t keep secrets from your friends.” It is also not too far of an extension to realize that you shouldn’t talk about friends or fellow believers behind their backs. What really cuts me to the core is that I don’t think I am a very good friend to others and especially not to Jesus. Particularly when Jesus also describes the great love of a friend being distinct from a working slave in terms of who would you die for? He proves the ultimate example by loving us before we knew him and loving us even when we would put him on the cross again and again. What if the servant asked us, “Aren’t you friends with that Jesus of Nazareth? I thought I saw you with him. You are friends, aren’t you?!” When we are put to give an answer in word or deed, what will we say or do? Let’s choose life and love and friendship. Jesus does. Jesus chooses all of us without exception. --Andrew Fitch Prayer: Your path is where we are to go. By your living waters we are to grow. May we avoid the detours and distractions that lead us away from you. Amne
Reading: Psalm 1 (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: Often when we travel there are detours and distractions. Detours send us off on a longer way to get to where we want to go. Billboards flash pictures and words that distract. The GPS gadget gives confusing directions. We are easily tempted to wander off the path the Lord offers; influenced instead by the gaudy, flashy distractions of others. Taking a longer way to get to where we mean to go. We need to stand firm and steadfast like a tree rooted in rich soil by His living waters. Then our fruit will prosper and be plentiful and we shall gladly share our blessings. God's path is constant and dependable. Go and grow there. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the message of eternal life in Christ. Amen
Reading: I John 5: 9-13 (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: The writer's purpose at the end of our text today seems to be to make sure readers know they have eternal life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (I John 5: 13) So that you may know... What messages do you want to make sure others know? Sometimes my message is You are loveable and capable. Sometimes my message is Enjoy this day! Reminders of being loved, doing things through Christ who gives strength and rejoicing in the day the Lord has made. What messages do you tell yourself so that you may know...? -- Ruth Gates Prayer: When we are feeling like we can do no more, help us to have the energy to stand up and preach. Amen.
Reading: Acts 1: 15-17, 21-26 (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 a student at Penn State, I passed by the Willard Building often on my way to class. There was a fixture that stood outside that building almost every day who was known as Gary, the Willard Preacher. Gary would stand there, Bible in hand, and preach. When I read about Peter standing up and preaching in our story for today, I was taken back to my days of seeing and hearing the Willard Preacher. Was the scene similar to the one with Peter? Did people take Peter seriously? When we read this story, we take it seriously because we know about Peter and his whole body of work. But back in those days did people pass by, like I did in college, and not necessarily take the corner preacher seriously. Lutherans often talk about being a public witness to our faith. But, we are also often called the “Frozen Chosen” as we aren’t always good at talking about our faith with others. What ways can we be more like Peter and Gary and stand up and preach? --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 May 11, 2015.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to remember all for whom we are to pray. Amen Reading: John 17: 6-19 (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: For today, I looked at the whole chapter of John 17 to get a better idea of what it is about. John 17 is one long prayer in three parts: Jesus Prays for his Himself; Jesus Prays for His Disciples; Jesus Prays for All Believers. It reminded me of a friend of mine who has a unique prayer system. She uses a different coffee mug each day of the week and each mug reminds her that day to pray for certain people. One day she prays for her family, the next day friends, another day the children of the world, another for pastors and missionaries and so on through the week. She explained the mug system helps her focus her prayers and this way no one falls through the cracks! How comforting and encouraging it is to know Jesus' three part prayer in John 17 covers many, leaving no one to fall through the cracks. How do you remember to pray for all? Maybe a daily system could help. It may also help you remember what day it is! --Ruth Gates On Fridays in May, we look at the scripture that our campers will be studying during Day 5 this summer of “Awesome God. Awesome Love.”
Prayer: O God, we give you thanks for all you have given us and that you love us. We remember the life of the apostle Paul, his mission and his ministry. We pray that just as you sent him out to be your witness to the world, that you will send us out to be a witness of your promise; to be a witness of your love; to be a witness to your awesomeness. You are an awesome God who loves us with some incredibly awesome love! Amen. Reading: Acts 9:1-22 (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: Saul killed Christians. It wasn’t just a job, it was a way of life. Saul was a passionate man of God, and he'd learned “one way” to believe. The savior of the Jewish people was supposed to be a powerful political figure. Jesus' power was love. This kind of power threatened everything Saul believed. On the road to the next village, Saul saw the light. Literally. He heard the voice of Jesus. Struck blind he finally began to see. Filled with Jesus' awesome love, he put down the sword and picked up the cross. His life was never the same' again. John Newton, the author of the hymn ''Amazing Grace" wrote: "I once was lost, but now I'm found; was blind, but now I see." When have you been lost? How were you found? How was that like being found by God's awesome love? If you don’t know about John Newton, look him up to see how God changed his life. --ELCA Curriculum Prayer: We praise you in many ways. With songs, joyful noise or whatever we do best. Praise the LORD! Amen.
Reading: Psalm 98 (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 many of the Psalms begin with "Sing to the LORD!" or "Make a joyful noise!"? Once a month in our church the children become ushers and everyone drops their loose change in a coffee can. This is our joyful noise offering. We once had a pastor who confessed he cannot sing, but he can whistle. So he encouraged our members who could not sing to just whistle instead. While there are no Psalms that begin with "Whistle to the LORD!" and while there are those that might consider whistling a noise even if joyful, as long as praise is the purpose then, well, if you can't sing...Whistle! Praise the LORD! -- Alice Yeakel Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on May 6, 2015.
Prayer: Dear God, how amazing it is that with you we can overcome the world. With your commands to guide us, help us feel strengthened already. Amen Reading: I John 5: 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: Have you ever felt like you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Have you ever seen someone looking as if they were? We all know the feeling. Sometimes we load the burdens on ourselves but more often the burdens seem to land on us: illness, sorrow, career changes, relationship struggles. Shoulders droop and spirits sink. In the midst of everything else in life, God's commands could feel like just another burden to carry. However, our text today assures us God's commands are not burdensome. In fact, when we are born of God, we have the strength to overcome what the world throws on us. Follow the command to love God and love others through the illness, the sorrow, the changes and struggles; through the health, the joy, the stillness and peace. Burdens and blessings seen through love give us strength. That is faith; that is victory! --Ruth Gates |
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