We have a little something different today for our devotional reading. Several years ago, our Chaplain to the Staff shared the following with our summer staff as one of his chaplain’s notes. We share it with you to reflect on this day.
As You Grow Up As you grow up, you will have your heart broken more than once and it’s harder every time. You’ll break hearts, too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You’ll fight with your best friend. You’ll cry because time is passing too fast, and eventually you’ll lose someone you love. So, take too many pictures, laugh too much and love like you’ve never been hurt. Because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you’ll never get back. I found this statement on a board in one of those see-if-we-can-separate-you-from-your-money shops in Cape May, NJ. Instead of buying it, I just jotted down the first few words and looked it up on the internet. I have no idea who wrote it. I like it because I find myself agreeing with so much of it. Just thought I would share it with you. –Jim Bricker
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Prayer: Help us over the bumps in the road, Lord, and whatever may be worse. Amen
Reading: Psalm 30 (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: Sometimes the path we travel becomes bumpy. There are potholes. In New England they have frost heaves. So we sometimes stumble, have to take a detour, or face a scary situation. I came home the other night and a bat was flying around my kitchen. (FYI - It is OK to call 911! At least in my town.) A skunk is digging holes in my yard and perfuming the neighborhood at night. (Solution - Scatter mothballs.) Now these are minor “bumps” in the road. Sometimes the bumps become mountains. But we surmount the mountains because we know God’s love is always with us…to help us through or around or over whatever frightens us. --Alice Yeakel Prayer: Dear God, may we all share our blessings and a bit of heaven with others. Amen
Reading: 2 Corinthians 8: 7-15 (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: There is a great song written back in 1934…… “I got plenty of nuttin’ and nuttin’s plenty for me. Got no car, got no mule. I got no misery” Many of us are blessed with plenty. There are those who are not. God urges /encourages us to share our plenty. And God also encourages/urges those in need to also be helpful in their own humble way. (Read verses 13 - 15) I occasionally put out a bag of cookies for my refuse collectors and they in turn bring the empty cans back to my porch rather than leaving them curbside. Such a kind gesture! “I got my gal, got my song, got heaven the whole day long” May we all share a bit of heaven all day long as we offer our blessings to others. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Thank you for your mercies new every morning. Help me to wait quietly. Your steadfast love is amazing and our hope is in you. Amen
Reading: Lamentations 3: 22-33 (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: From the margin notes in my Bible: 3: 22-39 The steadfast love of the LORD: These verses are often seen as the only message of hope in Lamentations.... I count on mercies new every morning and keep these verses close in heart but I did not realize the rest of Lamentations is so full of...lament. I guess I should have known, given the name of the book. In the barrage of bad news, it's encouraging to get some good. Like the short "Bright Spot" at the end of the evening news cast when, after the all stories of international trouble and natural disasters, there is the one story of the person collecting truckloads of food for the needy or the community cleaning up a vacant lot for a playground. There are bright spots. There are mercies...new every morning. Wait quietly. The LORD's love is steadfast and our hope is there. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: May our faith make us well through salvation. Amen
Reading: Mark 5:21-43 (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: I visit a 100 year old friend who just moved into a health care/retirement home one month before her 100th birthday. Prior to that she was only ever in the hospital once, at age 96, for a broken hip. (Her 3 children were born at home.) She has never taken any prescription medication. She scolded me…told me to “slow down” and stop being so busy! God gave Jesus the power to heal. Does He offer us the same power to heal ourselves? This is a complex question. Are we too active? Or not active enough? Are we paranoid and apprehensive? Or are we too careless in our self-care? Do we overmedicate? Do our habits, at least some of them, harm us? If we put our faith in God, will He strengthen and heal us? Your faith has made you well. (Mark 5: 34) In the orginal Greek, the word translated here as "has made you well" expresses the idea of "has saved you" (from your disease). The concept of health, wholeness and salvation are closely related in the Bible. Everyone is diferent in wellness but we all, through faith, have the same salvation. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Jesus, our Lord, help us to remember to keep You close to our hearts and always in our conversations so that we may spread the good news of Your righteousness and grace. In Your name we pray. Amen.
Reading: Romans 10:5-13 (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: Paul’s letter to the Romans is one of my absolute favorite books of the Bible because Paul wrote it to them with a focus on righteousness. It is no easy task to explain God’s righteousness- it exceeds what we can understand because we are sinners. I believe Paul’s reference to and paraphrasing of Moses in this passage is an excellent explanation and it is mind-blowing! The name for this act of amazing grace is “righteousness by faith,” and it is one of God’s most powerful and overarching gift to us. This righteousness is completely unmerited by those (sinners) receiving it. Paul says that righteousness by faith is found in those who believe in their heart and profess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord will be saved. At camp we recently had a worship experience during staff training, where we reflected on this passage as an alternative text for the theme of the day and found the graceful simplicity in this righteousness. During the campfire worship service we alternated between loud and quiet periods of worship to practice professing with our mouths and believing in our hearts. The worship was extremely contemplative and joyful, including a “J-E-S-U-S” cheer and a time of silent reflection of God’s provision in our lives. This was a wonderful reminder of how grateful I should be towards the availability of God’s grace! So take a moment, shout to the mountaintops that Jesus is Lord, and keep it close to your heart, always. --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: We watch the storms in life and cry out to you for safety. Thank you for being with us and for the calm stillness after. Amen
Reading: Psalm 107: 1-3, 23-32 (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: Storms. My daughter gave me a necklace with a cloud, raindrops and a lightning bolt as we like to watch thunderstorms together. Our storm watching was under the shelter of the front porch of our home but we were often chased inside by the wind and rain. Now she lives elsewhere. I recently visited her and, sure enough, an approaching storm chased us in from the outdoor seating of the restaurant. Safely inside we ate and came out to a world windswept and washed. Calm. The Psalms describes a storm and those in it losing courage. They cried to the Lord and he brought brought them out of their distress. In the still and quiet they rejoiced and thanked the Lord for his steadfast love. We sometimes become discouraged in the storms of life. We watch the storm brew and strike and sometimes have to seek safety. When the storm passes we are grateful and glad to be back to calm in life. I am grateful for my necklace, for my daughter the stormwatcher with me and for the calm that comes after. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Thank you for your grace as we work together now with hearts open to all. Amen.
Reading: 2 Corinthians 6: 1-13 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Paul, as always, is urging his readers to respond faithfully to God's grace in Christ. It is a common theme, of course, and really can't be overdone when you think about it. The emphasis here is to do it now. Now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! (v. 2b) If your excuse is, "Someday I will get around to it." someone cleverly made round cards with the words "to it" written on them. There you go. Now you have a "round to it" so get started already! Accept the grace of God now. Open wide your hearts now. The good news we are not alone. We get to work together now. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: May the words we listen to be those of knowledge from you, Lord. Amen Reading: Job 38:1-11 (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: Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38: 1) At this point in the story of Job, after all the human participants have had their say, God finally speaks. God speaks for two whole chapters. Job barely gets in three sentences pretty much with his hand over his mouth and then God goes on again for another two chapters. Pretty clear who is supposed to be doing the talking and who is to be doing the listening. In today's world of technology - tweets, news pundits, analysts, talk shows - we are innundated with far too many irresponsible words. Dark counsel of words without knowledge indeed! We need to filter out the nonsense and pontificating. We need to remember whose talking we should be listening to and how much talking we ourselves should be doing. God, our refuge and strength, is our source of knowledge and it won't be coming in a tweet. -- 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 15, 2015.
Prayer: Help me to remember what you do with the seeds I plant, O Lord. Amen. Reading: Mark 4:35-41 (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: Today’s parable follows immediately after the Parable of the Growing Seed. I tell you I get confused by this story, because I have no idea how mustard grows! And for some reason I don’t bother trying to find how. It seems to be enough that Jesus says that a teeny tiny seed produces a bush large enough for birds to nest in and be be shaded. What a nifty image. Whatever seed is planted it just grows and grows and grows. The Holy Spirit encouraged a family to respond to something I said in a sermon some time ago. They invited a family with a number of young children to church. They nourished them, loved and encouraged them. Members of the congregation caught on and pitched in. The result is a whole family being baptized. Some of them now serve in that congregation. That’s exciting. Here’s the kicker--I don’t remember what it was that I said! And it doesn’t matter. The seed was planted and is still growing! Plant more seeds today, friends. And pray for the staff and this week’s campers. --Jim Bricker Prayer: My Lord, my God, you are the sweetness of my life and all that I love and hold dear. I pray that you watch over me this day and keep me in your tender care. Be with and strengthen me and all those that are in my care this day. Find ways to use me to give witness to your surpassing goodness. In Christ, I pray. Amen.
Reading: Romans 16:25-27 (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: I like spy movies and TV shows. I used to have those secret decoder books. I thoroughly enjoyed decrypting puzzle books while my family traveled. Writing a secret message in lemon juice is a cool trick. Don’t we all love a secret that is being disclosed to us. Juicy gossip gets us moving in closer to hear all the tidbits (even if we aren’t supposed to). To what ends will we go to find out more? Don’t we push the boundaries of what is appropriate sometimes, just so we know what others might not. I wonder sometimes if that is part of the problem. Many don’t still see the radical nature of the disclosed secret—the love of God was hidden in Jesus. How many of us know the secret of Jesus? Do we share it like a valuable knowledge of someone who has done something crazy and reckless? Do we help others to understand that Jesus intends us to change the world one secret at a time…doing justice, loving neighbor, and loving God above all else. --Andrew Fitch Prayer: Hear our praises, O God, raised all day long. Amen
Reading: Psalm 92:1-4 (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 notes in my bible indicate that this psalm is “A Song for the Sabbath Day.” And it so easily can be heard as a Sunday worship celebration. Giving thanks. Singing praises. Lute and harp. (Guitar and Organ?) Because we witness God’s work. We sing for joy. Great way to understand and appreciate the Sunday liturgy. A wonderful sabbath. But why wait for Sunday? God’s love is daily. God’s faithfulness is always. God’s works are experienced minute by minute. So, why not celebrate sabbath moments? Sun up to sun set. Morning to night. Take a moment in your morning to say thanks. Take a moment at lunch to hum a hymn. Take a moment on the way home to praise the Lord. Sabbath Moments. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Help me to see your hand, O God, in new things in my world. Amen
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 (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: Making all things new. That is St. Paul’s image of the work of God in Jesus. It is a passage that is very meaningful at funeral services. Indeed, we take heart--the old flesh passes away and our loved one is brand new. I’m always impressed, however, how God continues to make things new even in this life—our flesh and blood life. New life in nature, of course—flowers, fields, grass, night skies. But, once in a while I witness a new relationship. A brokenness healed. A renewed love. A strengthened commitment. A deepened trust. A friendship refreshed. That, too, is God’s work. Making all things new. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Lord God, may we grow each day in you. Amen
Reading: Ezekiel 17: 22-24 (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: "I myself will take a sprig...plant it." (v. 22) God is going to replant a sprig on a mountain height. The sprig will come from the lofty top of a cedar and eventually grow into a lofty cedar, too. This, however, will take time. A long time. The point of our reading today is Israel will be exalted at last. It references God restoring the temple on Mount Zion in Jerusalem and all knowing the LORD's power. It also implies this will take a lengthy time. Rome wasn't built in a day. Takes time to turn the Titanic around. Good things come to those who wait. All phases that imply some things take time and patience is important. Waiting is hard; wondering makes it worse. We grow in the LORD each day and though it may take a long time, we will be exalted at last. "I the LORD have spoken; I will accomplish it." (v. 24) -- Ruth Gates Prayer: May the small seeds of kindness we drop along life's path grow and make a significant difference. Amen.
Reading: Mark 4: 26-34 (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: There is a little children's book published in 1988 called, The Grandpa Tree. The opening page begins: "One day a bird was flying through the sky with a small seed in its mouth when a moth flew by. The bird dropped the seed and caught the moth. The seed fell to the ground, the rains came, and the seed began to grow." The story continues, describing the life of the seed to seedling to tree to more seeds to more trees. Our seeds of kindness may seem small and insignificant as we drop them along life's path. But as kindness grows, it can make a significant difference. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: God of all, you are the one true God of all the world. All nations and people were created by your loving hands and are filled with your breath of life. Teach us, O Creator, to love each other and live in harmony with one another. Teach us to live beyond our posturing and falsehoods, fears and mistrust. Show us the way to be truly useful to You and your kingdom. In your name we pray. Amen.
Reading: Philemon (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: Whatever became of Mr. Useful (Onesimus)? Did Philemon welcome him back as a freed man? We hope so. The fact that the letter made it into the New Testament probably means that it sparked at least a small revolution of freedom and good news. The letter is a wonderful moment of discipleship ethics caught in time. The question, “Do you actually live by the equalizing teachings of Jesus?” is brought to the foreground. This is Paul’s version of a “come to Jesus” moment. Are you doing what you are supposed to be doing as a loving, merciful follower of the Christ?! Powerful questions and persuasive arguments to be sure!! --Andrew Fitch Prayer: O Lord, hear my cry. Through all my joys and sorrow I call to you O Lord. Help me with all my struggles and difficulties. Give me hope and peace. Help me love others as you have loved me. AMEN
Reading: Psalm 130 (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 are in the midst of staff training and we cry out to the Lord a lot. We cry for peace, patience, and rest. We work together so much and so closely we also cry for forgiveness. Thankfully I have been on the camp summer staff for ten years. It has taken me some time to get used to working with college aged folk. My first year here I struggled with all the different personalities and I prayed that I would just make it through the summer. The Lord really answered my prayers. Other years there were other individuals that I would struggle with but through prayer the Lord gave me peace, patience, and comfort. Living at camp has helped me see that when we live in community we can lean on the Lord. I hope you remember that we can lean on the Lord at all times. The Lord is there through any struggles and any joyous times. The Lord is willing to hear our cries, so cry out to the Lord for the Lord hears your voice. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: Continue to renew us each day and help us to see your plan for our lives. Amen.
Reading: 2 Corinthians 4: 13- 5:1 (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: This is the first week of staff training. I’m tired. But as one of my former staff used to say, “But, it’s a good tired!” We’ve been training with staff for a few days now and are very active. I’m walking more than I usually do. My work days are longer. But it feels good. I also notice quite a bit that I can’t do what I could do physically when I was a counselor nearly 30 years ago. I don’t always like to admit that, but my limitations are greater than when I was 18-years-old. Our scripture today reminds us that “Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” When I think about that, it makes me happy. Because I do think at times that I’ve turned a corner. I may not be able to physically do what I used to be able to do; but, I have lots of experience to share with others and I am continually growing in my spiritual life. I enjoy helping to teach the youngsters here at camp and sharing my “war stories.” Maybe that is part of God’s big plan. When you are young, you can physically share your gifts more. When you are older, you can mentally and spiritually share your gifts more. God’s got a job for each of us, no matter our age. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: May we always listen to hear the sound of your presence everywhere. Amen
Reading: Genesis 3: 8-15 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: What does God sound like? Our text today says, "They (Adam and Eve) heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze." (Genesis 3: 8) Was it the sound of the breeze that they knew God was in the midst? Today I am at Camp Mount Luther for the GROW Time Writers' Retreat. Outside the air is calm; not even a breeze. Inside I hear the tippy-tapping of many fingers on multiple laptops typing devotions (and one quietly writing with pen and paper). God is present here. Listen to hear the sound of God's presence wherever you are. Hope you hear it in the GROW Time devotions we are writing today. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: God, as you show no partiality, we learn to live together in our differences and create beauty together. Amen
Reading: Mark 3: 20-25 (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: God shows no partiality! That was the theme of our Easter morning sermon. We were urged to live in peace. Why is this so hard? It is alright to disagree. It is okay to dress differently, eat different foods, and enjoy different music. A chorus blends the voices of bass, tenor, alto and soprano. An orchestra blends stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass and percussion. Together, they are magnificently inspiring. They are individually humbling as parts alone but simply cannot create the harmonies. And, there are many different colors in a box of crayons. When used in a drawing a beautiful picture is created. Wouldn't if be great if we could create a beautiful world through our different words and deeds together? -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: God we ask that the Holy Spirit come fill us. Help us spread the faith to all. May the baptized believers live in your word. May your Spirit fill the land. AMEN
Reading: Acts 10: 44-48 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 these verses the Holy Spirit is sent to the early church leaders to guide them in their faith. The Spirit filled them so they could tell others about God - the Father, creator, and about Jesus - the Son and Savior. The Spirit helped them grow the body of believers. All who were filled with the Spirit were to be baptized. That helped them go beyond their “traditional” believers. Just as the Holy Spirit guided the early church leaders the Spirit guides us. I believe also that the Spirit fills us and helps us know right from wrong. When people say let your conscience be your guide, I believe that is the Holy Spirit leading us. We are to live in the word and be filled with the Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit are many and varied. Galatians 5:22-23, 25 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. … If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” --Charlene Rineer |
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