Prayer: Dear God, help me always and continually keep my mind on You. Let my relationship with Jesus be noticeable by my words and actions. I ask that my vocabulary and behaviors show love for others without frustration, bitterness or hate. Amen
Reading: Colossians 3: 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: Even though I have known Jesus all my life, I have failed to be a consistent representative of a Christian. I am human and will continue to err and stumble. I sometimes, try as I might, do exactly what I don't want to do. I have shown frustration in the workplace, anger to my children and disrespect to my husband. Amazingly the love and discipline of God can transform me in undeserved perfection. By keeping our minds on things above and His image, we can appear with Him in glory. -- Sharon Truitt
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Prayer: Heavenly Father, our Creator. You have not forsaken your children and creation, not even the sparrows. May we see your love for Israel and your children throughout the stories you have given to us in your word. Thank you for your compassion and love even when we turn from you. May we always turn back. In your holy name we pray, Amen.
Reading: Hosea 11:1-11 (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: When I looked up these verses the heading in my Bible said, “God’s Love for Israel” and we as children of God under the new covenant, are the new Israel. That is why I titled this devotion “God’s Love for You.” I want you to read this passage again and apply it to you. Towards the end of the passage it talks about how despite the sinful nature of God’s people, Israel, God will not let his anger rule. God’s compassion rules in his heart and when the children come out from their sin, trembling like sparrows, God will settle them in their homes. Again and again, God will show compassion to the sparrows, to his children. The imagery of the birds used here is a way to remind yourself of God’s love for you when you see how even the sparrows are provided for. The use of sparrows in this passage also reminded me of one of my favorite Jason Gray songs that says, “Not a field or flower escapes His notice. Oh even the sparrow knows He holds tomorrow.” Sparrows by Jason Gray - https://youtu.be/wRJZQFRyZ6s --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: Heavenly Father, turn our hearts towards heaven and transform our minds to think like you so we may be generous towards others. Remind us that when our heart and treasure lie in heaven, we are rich in you. In your Holy name we pray, Amen.
Reading: Luke 12:13-21 (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: In the Parable of the Rich Fool Jesus describes a man who stores up his abundance of food for himself. Jesus then warns who is listening (or now reading) that you should not store up things for yourself without being rich towards God. This reminds me of a passage in Matthew (6:19-21) that warns where you store your treasures, your heart will be also, and so that means this rich fool’s heart lays in his piles and piles of grain. Does that sound like he is showing generosity and love towards those less fortunate? It sounds to me like he is not storing his treasures in heaven… This summer at camp our curriculum is all about transforming community, and one of the ways our campers learn to transform community is with generosity. We read a story of the early church community whose minds were renewed by Christ so that they knew to be kind and generous to others. Sharing the communion meal was one way they did so, and I think the rich fool could take a page of their book and share (or “break”) his grain with others. Then his treasure AND his heart would be in heaven, knowing that his treasures on earth are merely temporary. --Anne Harshbarger We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on June 4, 2015.
Prayer: I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart! Amen Reading: Psalm 138 (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 think today I shall simply focus on Question 2. What delights me in this text? Psalm 138 is good for that. From start to finish it is a Psalm of praise and thanksgiving. It begins with what I will do: praise God with all my heart. It ends with what God will do: fulfill his purpose for me. I really don’t have much else to write or say about all this. God’s love endures forever and that is enough to know. One thing I do find curious. The second part of the first verse: before the gods I will sing your praise. What gods could David be talking about and what are the “little g” gods in our lives? Job security, financial stability, strong health, popularity, fancy house, shoe-shopping, dark chocolate… I know I have gone from serious to silly here but before these gods, we are to sing praises to God alone. To God be the glory! Amen. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, thank you for giving us the gift of Jesus and that we have a time to celebrate his birth. Amen.
Reading: Luke 2: 1-51 (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: On this “Christmas in July” day, we remember our savior’s birth: Merry Christmas we all say when we remember Jesus’ birthday! All wrapped up in swaddling clothes in a manger he will go Never think it was an easy journey for Joseph and his wife, Mary Getting there took days and nights Even staying in an inn was almost impossible Remember Jesus on December 25th and remember he will give and give! --Claire Hershberger Prayer: Dear God, may your word of Good News and love come to us fresh so we listen with interest. Keep us from empty deceit. Guide us to the Good News. Amen
Reading: Colossians 2: 6-15 (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: I look forward to our Sunday sermons. Our pastor comes up with some of the most intriguing titles such as, “Where’s the Chicken?”, “There’s a Hole in my Cellar” and, just this past Sunday, “So What’s the Question?”. With titles like these you really want to listen. Sometimes I try to ’’listen” to the world news but soon lose interest. I prefer our pastor’s sermons filled with the Good News. I am reminded of verse 8 of our text today, "Do not become captive to empty deceit." Listen with interest to that which is full of life and love. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Lord, help us learn persistence when it comes to godly things. Amen.
Reading: Genesis 18: 20-32 (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: Six times Abraham goes back to God with a "Suppose...?" sort of question to seemingly influence God not to do something. Six times! That's like a young child asking over and over again six times, "How about if...? How about if...? How about if...? ..." Not at all saying Abraham was being annoying or that we should hold back repeating our questions and requests to God. But rather thinking perhaps persistance is an okay thing when it comes to trying to understand God's ways. Granted, we will never completely understand or come close to being in charge, but if staying engaged grows faith, then by all means keep asking, "How about if...?" -- Ruth Gates We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on July 18, 2016.
Prayer: Father, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial. (Luke 11: 2-4) Reading: Luke 11: 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: Within our text today is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples. We call it the Lord's Prayer; phrasing it a bit differently, varying according to the traditional or contemporary version and using the word trespasses, debts, or sins. We know it by heart. We pray it often. It covers everything. So as we continue reading the text for today, the message is to persevere in prayer. The parable is of a neighbor who gets what he asks for because of his persistence. Then Jesus goes on to encourage us all to ask, seek and knock. Whether our prayers are our own words, the prayer that Jesus taught us or the Spirit interceding when we don't know how to pray, what seems to matter most is to persevere in prayer. --Ruth Gates Prayer: May the music we make matter more as we praise you. Amen
Reading: Psalm 150 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Music is a big part of the camp experience. Songs before and after every meal. Songs during worship. Songs at campfire. Songs randomly through the day as they have gotten stuck in your head. I work in a music school where we have a saying, "Music Matters. Making Music Matters More." I heard a story about the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. In the weeks leading up to the wall coming down, the citizens of Leipzig, Germany gathered for peaceful candlelight protests on Monday evenings around St. Nikolai church. As they gathered they would sing and over two months their numbers grew from a little more than a thousand people to more than three hundred thousand, over half the citizens of the city. They sang until their song shook the powers of their nation and changed the world. Some time after the fall, a journalist asked one of the commanders of the East German secret police why they hadn't crushed these protests like they had so many others. He replied, "We had no contingency plans for song." No wonder music is such an important part of being at Camp. Who can say the have not been changed after Psalm 150 (extended edition), Kum Ba Ya (funky fresh version) or a rousing rendition of Green Grow the Rushes. It really does make a difference. Our music matters more as we join together in both worship and fun. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, you are with us when we are safe in shelter and when exposed in the open. May we be faithful and trusting; always doing right and speaking truth from the heart. Amen
Reading: Psalm 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: The Psalmist asks who may abide in the tent of the Lord or dwell on the Lord's holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, do what is right and speak truth from the heart. They shall never be moved. A tent is shelter but still rather flimsy. A holy hill is special indeed but exposed nonetheless. Still, these are places to be...with the Lord. And that makes the difference. Maybe it also means there are times when we can be private in our walk of faith as if in a tent and unseen. And other times when we need to do and and speak in the open as if on a hill for all to see and hear. Either way, the Lord is with us. And that makes the difference. Wherever you are today, do these things and you will not be moved. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, we serve you by serving your people. May we look to you as we labor for the church. Amen
Reading: Colossians 1: 15-28 (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 first part of our reading (verses 15-23) establishes Christ as supreme and Paul as servant. The second part (verses 24-28) is about Paul's labor for the church. Clearly who is in charge, who is working and what the work is. That's a good message for the Colossians and for us, too. Christ is who we serve and our labor is for the church. What is the church? Or rather, who is the church? According to the Sunday School song. I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together. Sometimes Paul sounds like he is alone. Sometimes we may feel alone. Remember we are all together working to serve Christ. Look to God. See the people. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, keep our eyes open for people who come our way with messages of hope. May we hurry to welcome and listen. Amen
Reading: Genesis 18: 1-10a (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: If Abraham had not been sitting at the entrance of his tent, he might not have noticed the three men standing nearby. Had he been somewhere else or busy at a task, he might not have even invited them to visit. But once he did, it was as if Abraham was in a rush to welcome and feed them. Then, after all the hurry and hospitality, Abraham stood near, listened and received a message of hope. I am reminded to watch for people who come along in life and to be quick to welcome. My message may be hospitality. Who knows what message they may have? -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, when we are tempted to do two things at once, may we remember to focus on the most important. Amen
Reading: Luke 10: 38-42 (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: I recently made a cake from scratch while listening to a podcast. I noticed the cake didn't rise as much as usual as it baked. When I served the cake, it was rather dense and dry. I think I completely missed putting the eggs in the batter! Obviously I cannot follow a recipe while listening to someone talk. Maybe Mary knew that about herself, too. She knew dinner probably wouldn't turn out right if she tried to listen to Jesus and cook at the same time. So she listened to Jesus. Surely Martha's meal turned out better than my cake. Next time, though, she might sit and listen, too. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Heavenly Father, we lift to you everything we have in our hearts so that we may become full of the love you give us. Help us strive to do as you wish and walk in your son’s ways, and continue to show us how to do these things. Bless the souls of those who need such, as we show them your glory and praise. Continue to allow us to shine in your light as we profess everything you have taught us through your son. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Reading: John 1: 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: As we venture in our lives, we remember the bonds we’ve made our friends, family, acquaintances, and anyone we’ve come across. Just as we have made bonds with each other, we have also made bonds with God. By showing each other the goodness of our hearts, we show them the bonds we’ve made with God. This passage begins John’s account of God’s most forthcoming bond to us: God’s son, Jesus Christ. The Word became flesh as Jesus and show us the way God would like us to live. Jesus showed us first hand, through death, that we should take God’s love for us and spread it around to all people. God shared the deepest part of his love with us through his son to show us all that God cared more deeply about the people of earth that God cared about his very own flesh and blood. Now, as people of the Earth, we should strive to show the world the love that God showed us with truth and grace! --Adam Joraskie Prayer: Remind me, God, of your truth.
Reading: Psalm 25:1-10 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: It is so easy to be distracted and misled in today’s world. Communication can go viral in just a few minutes. And often we have no way of checking the accuracy or truth of the information transmitted. We can so easily be misled. To some degree, the psalmist must have felt something similar. Here we are encouraged to stay in touch with what is the truth—dependable truth. I’m not sure how to help us do that. Except to offer the reminder for us to be careful about what we read and hear. Compare it always with what we know to be God’s way. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Dear God, may seeds of kindness and good will break through barriers as we share the love you first gave us. Amen
Reading: Colossians 1: 1-14 (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: Our front and back porch floors are concrete. Over the years cracks have appeared in the foundation and from these cracks at the back porch dandelion have sprouted. This year we have some other green leaves popping out from the cracks along the front porch. Several years ago we decided to put river rock over a small section of our yard. But first the landscaper put down a plastic “cover” to prevent any growth between the pebbles. Time has passed. We now have clover, violets, and even a few daffodils growing through. May God’s love and wisdom grow from within us. May our seeds of kindness and goodwill break through any barriers in the way. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Dear God, may your word always be very near to us; in our mouths and in our hearts. Amen
Reading: Deuteronomy 30: 9-14 (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: The word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe. - Deuteronomy 30: 14 There are two Bible verses I have always kept in my heart for my children. The verses seemed to fit them and their lives. I have rubber stamps of the verses so quick and easy reminders could be put on mirrors, nightstands, bulletin boards, lunchboxes, cards in the mail. Our text today speaks of God's word being near to us and therefore not too hard to observe. My hope is keeping the word close has helped, especially when things seemed too hard. The rubber stamps are only six inches away in the letterbox on my desk as I am typing this devotion. I think I will make a card or two right now. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Give me really good sneakers, Lord! Amen.
Reading: Luke 10:25-37 (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’ve encountered this story so often. A story Jesus tells to illustrate God’s bottom line. In this one it is mercy. Or grace, or peace, or gentleness, or kindness, or love. God is all these. God does all these. So, as the Nike commercial says, "Just Do It." --Jim Bricker Prayer: Help us, God, to give others second chances. Amen.
Reading: 1 Samuel 11: 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: This passage is saying to me how you should never give up on a person. A second chance should be given to everyone no matter what they have done. I have this saying that I will always give you a second chance but when that’s gone it’s your loss. That saying goes for everyone I met. It doesn’t matter-- workers, family, and any relationships. Can you give a second chance today? --JaTanna Parrish We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on June 30, 2016.
Prayer: Powerful God, may we sing of your great power with Psalms and tell of your awesome deeds in songs. Amen Reading: Psalm 66: 1-9 (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: It's all because of Camp. Anytime I read, "turned the sea into dry land" (v. 6), I automatically start singing (usually in my head but sometimes out loud...and with motions): Pharaoh, Pharaoh! Oh baby, let my people go. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I said now, Pharoah, Pharoah! Oh baby, let my people go. Yeah, yeah, yeah! Well, me and God's people comin' to the Red Sea And Pharaoh's army comin' after me. I raised my rod, stuck it in the sand and all of God's people walked across dry land. Okay, it's better if you hear it (It's on the Camp Mount Luther - Lift Up Your Voices CD). It's even better with the motions. But, you'd have to come to camp to learn them. Either way, Psalms are songs and this one had me singing. The story of the parting of the Red Sea is a great one to proclaim God's awesome deeds and, trust me, singing it is very empowering (especially with the right attitude and gutsy motions). We all need to remember and tap into God's great power. If you ever hear me singing this one, you know I am looking to God for help. If I am doing the motions, you know I am really going for it. Sing and move along with me... Well Pharaoh's army is a-comin' too. So what do you think that I should do? I raised my rod and I cleared my throat (ahem!) And all of Pharaoh's army did the dead man's float. I said now, Pharaoh, Pharaoh! Oh baby..... --Ruth Gates Prayer: In whatever we do, let our work be for the good for all and may we never give up. Amen
Reading: Galatians 6: 7-16 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This spring our son cut down two rosebushes because I said they were dead. He disagreed but followed my directions. There is now new growth and healthy leaves. We also cut down a very scrawny Japanese maple two years ago. It too is growing back. A neighbor cut down a tulip poplar. There is a young tree growing from the stump. God tells us we reap what we sow. Sometimes it seems He also provides new life when we have given up. For two years we planted butternut squash. Last year’s crop was very disappointing. Now we’ve planted a third crop. Will we reap what we sow? Or will it be a seed from a left behind squash from last year's torn out vine that produces this season? -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Comforting God, we bring to you our hurts and sorrows. We will rejoice in you as you care for us always. Amen
Reading: Isaiah 66: 10-14 (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: List comfort foods and we might all come up with a few of the same. Think of comfortable places to sit or rest and I know a few (Camp Staff in particular) who would pick hammocks. Consider who you turn to for comforting words and many would answer friends. Long before the idea of friend became a concept of social media with us seemingly having more friends than ever before possible, there was an old hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus...all ours sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer. I leaned on a friends after church today. Even asked them for prayer. Yet, I knew that in the hour before that, there was comfort and rejoicing as I worshiped. Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior still our refuge - Take it to the Lord in prayer. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, make us the bearers of your peace. Amen
Reading: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 (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 I enter homes with a placard or sign of some sort that says, “Peace be with you.” Or “Peace to all who enter.” Or something similar. It’s a nice way to be greeted. Entering a home like that makes me relax expecting that here I might find respite, peace and God’s grace. All delivered, of course, by the host. In Jesus’ instructions to those sent out in today’s reading, we hear that the visitor is to speak, “Peace to this house.” Perhaps not just speak, but actually bring peace to the home and those who live there. Not that we anticipate turmoil in every home we visit, but just that we bear respite, peace and God’s grace to our hosts. Interesting. What would you think if you answered the door bell and when you opened it the person on the porch greeted you, “Peace to this house?” Or switch it around, would you have the courage if you were the visitor to greet your host, “Peace to this house?” It would seem strange, perhaps. But, in this day and age we all need God’s peace. --Jim Bricker |
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