Prayer: Thank you for all your works and wonders. I remember when (fill in your story). Praise the Lord! Amen
Reading: Psalm 105: 1-6, 23-26, 45c (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 read the beginning, the end and part of the middle of Psalm 105 a couple weeks ago. Just to know, Psalm 105 comes up again in a similar way in another couple weeks. The point I made before was how it began with a general list of the Lords' amazing deeds and ended with a reminder to, Praise the Lord! The middle was a bit about Abraham, Jacob and Joseph. This week the middle is a bit about Jacob and then introduces Moses and Aaron. Next time the middle will wrap up the Moses story. Same as I wrote before, I get the feeling we can begin our prayers and songs with being thankful for God's works and wonders and end with Praise the Lord! Amen. Those are like bookends for our prayers. In the middle is our running story of God in our lives. Fill in the middle with a bit of your story and bookend with thanks and praise. --Ruth Gates
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Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on August 27, 2014.
Prayer: May our lives reflect you, God. Amen. Reading: Romans 12: 9-21 (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: Wow! As I read this passage, I thought to myself how these are simple rules, laid out for us to live a Christian life. It gives all kinds of good advice for how we should act and treat others. If we would meditate and pray about these things, surely our lives would be better. I was particularly struck by how it tells us to treat our enemies. If we treat them with love and respect, it is like putting hot coals on their head. Taking the high road is the best option. It is my hope that you spend some time today reflecting on this passage and seeing where you might need to improve in your life. Think on these things, and then take some action! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: God, we know you supply our needs. Help us to share what you give us with others and trust you for all we need. Amen.
Reading: Exodus 17:1-7 (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 can’t imagine one of our camper groups going on their overnight camping trip and not having water. We always make sure that we take water with us and have enough for our stay in the woods. But in our story today, Moses and the Israelites didn’t have enough water. And they looked to their leader to supply it for them. And, Moses looked to God and God provided. But he had to trust in God. Do we trust in God to supply our needs? Or, do we “stock up” so we know we will have enough. Maybe God’s timing isn’t always our timing, but God always supplies! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Guide and protect us, dear Jesus, as we follow you. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 16: 21-28 (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: In our passage today, Jesus foretells his death and resurrection. From his birth, Jesus knew what he had to do. He knew the plan for his life and knew that he would go to Jerusalem and face death. In some ways, wouldn’t it be nice if we received a map and knew exactly where we were going in life? Of course, like Jesus, we know we will ultimately face death. But between life and death (and taxes) we really don’t know what will happen in between. Jesus also tells us in this passage that we need to take up our cross and follow him. Maybe (well, probably) if we focused on that, everything else in our lives would just follow suit. If we trust Jesus to take care of things in our life, I’m sure it will turn out great, right? I bet you are thinking like me right now. That’s easier said than done. But I think I’ll take a step today toward following Jesus more. I’ll try to pray a little more today and seek God’s will in my life. Maybe that’s all the map I need in my life. How about you? --Chad Hershberger Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on May 4, 2013. Prayer: Watch over us, Lord, when we need to escape. Guide us in our lives and in our journey of faith. Help us to share our story with others. Amen. Reading: Exodus 12: 21-36 (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: Has a Biblical story ever come to life for you? It did for me when I was a senior high camper at Mount Luther in the late 1980s. It was Sunday night and we were talking about the rules for the week, what we wanted to do and we had started Bible study. The director came into the lodge and said it was well past our bedtime and we needed to go to bed right away. Our leaders said they didn't think it was fair that we could finish our study because if we didn't, we would be behind the rest of the week. So, we decided to rebel (with the prodding our of leaders). We decided to leave camp. A group of us went to the kitchen to get some food. Another group made a sign to show our intent. And so, the next morning at five o'clock, we put our sign on the camp office (it read: The Israelites flew the coop- so did we) and proceeded to walk about five miles in hundred degree heat. We found out after our walk that the whole event was planned. Our leaders wanted to show us what it was like to be the Israelites and how they exited from Egypt. It was a good lesson. We learned about the Exodus and what it was like to be oppressed. We had to walk back to camp after we did Bible study at the church we walked to. It was a very hot day and to top it off, we had to carry back an "ark of the covenant" which was not an easy task. But it was a memorable experience, giving me the opportunity to live out an important event in biblical history. It made me think about Moses and the Israelites and how they felt during the Exodus. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Our help is in you, Lord, our Maker. Amen
Reading: Psalm 124 (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 are a lot of "ifs" in life. What if...? If this, then... If only... I would, if.... Psalm 124 starts with, If the Lord had not been on our side... and continues with a list a terrible things what could have/would have gone wrong. However, the Lord was on the side of Israel and is praised. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (v. 8) It would be easy to live thinking if all the time but that seems an uncertain way to be. Better to be certain our help is in the Lord. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, help me to live humbly with others.
Reading: Romans 12:1-8 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I often use a line in this passage. “Somebody is thinking more highly of himself (or herself) than he ought!” (And when I say that, I am probably thinking more highly of myself than I ought.) St. Paul connects the ideas of community and discerning the will of God. As I read the passage, the humble, sober individual contribution to the whole community seems to be “what is good and acceptable and perfect.” And if we think of ourselves as being better than others in the community, how can we receive the other’s gift? If we think that it is my way or the highway, we lose all the contributions of others in the whole community. But we can take it a step further, I think. St. Paul urges us to present ourselves as holy. I recall from time to time Kenneth H. Blanchard’s quote, “None of us is as smart as all of us.” (One Minute Manager.) In this passage, I think the quote could read, “None of us is as holy as all of us?” What do you think? One, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Lord, use me even in my craziness. Amen
Reading: Exodus 1:8-2:10 (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: One of our longer texts, huh? Full of all sorts of stuff: fear, prejudice, slavery, deception, trickery, murder, lies, compassion, irony, life. This story takes such twists and turns that sometimes it’s a little difficult to follow. But through it all the reader hopes and pulls for the losing side. And in the end of the story we see the loser becoming the winner. But, put our emotions aside and look at what really happens. Through all the twists and turns, God gets done what needs to be done. In this whole crazy piece of life, God is working and making happen what God wants to happen. And so it is in our lives. What craziness in our lives, in our life journey is God working through to make happen what God wants? Maybe it is hard to imagine that God can find a way to use the crazy stuff in our lives. But God does. And that is the grace in this story. God is working and will get what God wants, no matter how crazy life seems at times. --Jim Bricker Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on August 18, 2014.
Prayer: Help us, Lord, to know who and whose we are. Amen. Reading: Matthew 16: 13-20 (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: In this passage, Jesus asks the disciples to share who people say he is. They respond with various answers, until Jesus presses them to answer the question for themselves. Simon Peter responds that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of the living God! He tells them that is correct and further gives Simon some positive reassurance as he tells Peter that the church will be built on him. When people ask you who you are, how do you respond? Many times, we wrap up our identity in what we do for a living, or whose family we are in, or something else. But I've heard folks answer the "tell me who you are" with the answer, "I am a child of God." I think that's neat. That is the most important part of our identity, isn't it? The next time someone asks you who you are, think about it before you answer. Maybe your answer will be different this time around! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Lord, as we start our prayers with thanks and end them with praise, we remember in the middle all the wonders you have done in our lives. Amen
Reading: Psalm 105: 1-11, 45b (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 reading is a split one today. Eleven verses at the beginning of Psalm 105 and then the last half of the last verse at the end. Makes you wonder what is going on in the middle. Well, first, let's look at verses 1-11. Give thanks, call on (the LORD's) name, sing, tell, glory in his name, rejoice, seek his face...and that is only the first four verses! It is a great start to a prayer of praise and thanksgiving which we could use anytime. Verse 45b simply says, "Praise the LORD." Done. That's how to end it. Yes, just our text for today is a handy prayer. But what is in the middle? The 14 1/2 verses from 12-45a? Simply a remembering of the wonders the LORD has done from Abraham to Jacob to Joseph to Moses. His promise to his chosen ones. We can remember that in the middle of our prayers, too. Go ahead and start a prayer by reading Psalm 105: 1-11. Then come up with your own list of wonders from your own life. You may even be able to come up with 14 1/2 verses of wonders. Then end with "Praise the LORD!" Amen. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, unite us as your family and may the blessing of life evermore be ours. Amen
Reading: Psalm 133 (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: Look at the photos of the senior high girls at Camp Mount Luther this summer. They were all in braids. It was their own special thing. Along with living together in a cabin, eating meals in the dining hall, having all the fun of camp, devotions, and days on end together, they all did their hair in braids. Like Psalm 133 speaks of, kindred unity on so many levels even down to hair care. How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity. Psalm 133: 1 The week at camp comes to an end and the goodbyes are often sad. Yet, the Lord ordains his blessing, life forevermore. (v. 3) We are God's family. Let's hope to see each other at camp again next year! --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, the gifts and calling you give us are irrevocable. Help us to continue to use them and serve you. Amen
Reading: Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32 (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: When I was young there was a really mean name for someone who gave something away and then took it back. I knew it was wrong to do that and it was also very wrong to call people names. So wrong on both sides that it became very ingrained and uncomfortable to even think about about let alone do either. However, the gifts God has given are for keeps and God's call is for always. They are irrevocable. He does not take them back. God is not going to trick us and our names for God are loving. Thanks be to God. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Reveal yourself to us, Lord, and may we reveal your love to others, too. Amen
Reading: Genesis 45: 1-15 (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: People are big on revealing things these days. They even have parties in which the big reveal could be the announcement of if the baby is a boy or a girl. Balloons are popped and either pink or blue confetti flutters out. Or the color of the cake under the icing is the revealing. Then there is much celebration. Joseph revealed himself to his brothers when they came to Egypt groveling for help and food. They had no idea they would find their brother, who they sold into slavery many years before, now successful, powerful and able to help them in their need. The Big Reveal could have gone so many ways but it went well in the midst of disbelief, fear and tears. Reunited, forgiven, loving and seeing God's hand in all that happened turned the situation around. Where will God reveal himself to you today? Watch for the big reveal especially if you are having a rough day. It may turn things around. How will you reveal God's love to others? It may turn their day around, too. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Listening God, when it seems we aren't getting the answers right away, help us to remember to be patient and persistent. Amen
Reading: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 (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: There are times when it just looks like Jesus is holding off an answering or doing something when being asked. In this story, it seems at first he isn't even listening to the Canaanite women but surely he is hearing her pleas for help. The disciples are hearing her and their response is to ask Jesus to send her away. But he doesn't and after a bit more persistance, the woman's daughter is healed. Patience and persistance pays off, they say. That’s easier said than done. But the Canaanite woman knew who Jesus was and what he could do. She did not give up regardless of being brushed aside at first. It would have been easy for her to think maybe this Jesus person isn't all they say he is but she did not waver in her trust in his power. In the end, Jesus acknowledged her faith and told her what she wished for was done. Imagine her arriving back home to find her daughter well! --Ruth Gates Prayer: May we always hold onto you, Jesus, and be better people. Amen. Reading: Matthew 4: 5-10 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This spring, when I visited Messiah Lutheran Church in South Williamsport, I took this picture of one of the paintings in their sanctuary. I was struck by the fact that these followers of Jesus were holding onto his clothes. To me, it showed that they truly wanted to hold onto Jesus. How do we hold onto Jesus? Granted, we physically cannot do what these disciples could do but in what ways to be hold onto Jesus? Are Jesus’ teachings your guide for life? Do you look for Jesus in the everyday things that occupy your life? As we have just wrapped up another summer camping season, it is my hope that our campers and staff hold onto Jesus and the things they learned at camp. I challenged them each week to go home and look for God in water—just like we talked about this summer during our “Water of Life” theme. Hopefully, they are finding God creating, baptizing, supplying, healing, and rescuing so that we can care, belong, share, help, and rest. Hopefully you can do the same, too! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: With a song in our hearts and sometimes even out loud, we praise you always, Lord. Amen
Reading: Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45 (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: Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell all of his wonderful works. ~ Psalm 105: 2 We knew Day Camp VBS was a success when toward the end of the week the children started singing Kum Ba Yah (funky, fresh version) unprompted as they were just sitting around together. Spontaneous, "Hey, let's sing that cool song! You start; we'll echo. Everyone stand up and do the motions." There were many other signs of success, yes, but that was a great moment and affirmation of God's Word going out and God's love being shared. Praise the Lord! (chicka-ha!) --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, bless our hands and feet so that we may spread the good news of righteousness by faith for all to hear.
Reading: Romans 10:5-15 (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: One of the Apostle Paul’s favorite topics to write about is justification by faith, also referred to as “righteousness that is by faith.” Which is what is mentioned in today’s scripture reading. Justification by faith is all about disregarding the system of justification by works or law, where people were measured by their performance of good works, and instead celebrating the faithful at heart. Only God knows our hearts, so it does no good to boast in our good works and do it all for a big show. Good works do not earn your favor in the sight of the Lord, Jesus already saved us all on the cross. Instead our good works are signs of our salvation and faith in Jesus Christ. I love the last line in today’s reading, it says: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” and naturally I think of camp counselor feet. Many staff members have their favorite pair of sandals and throughout the summer those feet see many miles and smiles. Despite the actual appearance of those feet- whether they are a bit muddy, smelly, or they have an oddly shaped tan, they are beautiful. As children of God, created in His image, when we carry the Good News of Jesus our hands and feet radiate with beauty. --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: Thanks, Lord, for families.
Reading: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 (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: This is one of those stories that gets told over and over again in lots of forms—from Sunday School skits to major stage plays. It is interesting how the whole thing starts—the thing of Joseph being sold into slavery and ending up in Egypt. It starts because Jacob loved Joseph more than the other sons. The other brothers were bummed out, to say the least. I digress just a bit—My older brother always said that our older sister got away with a lot more than he did. And for sure, he said, I got away with a whole lot more than either he or our older sister did. And for the sister who came along even later, well she was just plain spoiled, spoiled, spoiled. She had dad wrapped around her little finger. I know, it is probably the same in any family with more than one child. I think it is called jealousy. And I know that this family dysfunction is as old as... It’s really old! Somehow the four of us weathered that jealousy. Even though it is true that mom and did treat each of us differently, we ended up ignoring that and just figured out how to love each other. My older brother and sister have died. It’s just me and my younger sister now. I am so very grateful that we were not consumed by jealousy. You know, in the end of this story all the brothers and their huge families were blessed because of things done out of jealousy. Joseph became an important person in Egypt and saved his family who were dying because of a severe drought. But, the pain in the family during the many years between, must have been very difficult. So, got a brother or sister? Maybe a couple of them? Give ‘em a call—do it now. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for lending a lifesaving hand. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 14:22-33 (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: A familiar story that has been the foundation of numerous jokes. Punch line—you have to know where the rocks are. But, too often we don’t know where the rocks are. Too often we lose track of the foundation that supports us. Too often we lose our footing. Too often we feel like we are sinking and there is no way to touch bottom. In this story, there is a sentence for those sinking moments. “Jesus immediately reached out his hand.” Whew! Rescued. Jesus is always beside us, walking with us whether on land or water. When we begin to falter, he is there reaching out out his hand. Grab it!! --Jim Bricker Prayer: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 23 (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: Editor’s Note: A few weeks ago when Beth Roux was in camp during Week 5, she was inspired by our study of Psalm 23 and reflected upon that. Her reflection is today’s devotion. Beth is a former staff member, board member, volunteer, and now mother of one of our counselors and campers! The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. We all know this, we have heard it over and over our whole lives. But what does it say to you? Today is Friday, the last day of the week at Camp Mount Luther. It is pouring rain and has been since last night. The campers are tired but still sad that they will soon need to leave each other. Psalm 23 is the lesson of today. It speaks to the campers about their roles as a Christian every day as they head outside of this place where it is always so safe to be a Christian. But what does it say to the campers? To help them, a counselor asks them, “What is a shepherd?” The answers come pouring out. He is to take care of the sheep, he is to keep them together and he is to protect them from wolves. “He is even part of the Christmas story!” one camper adds. “Good!” says the counselor. “Now what do you know about the sheep?” “Well they are kind and gentle animals,” someone says, “They need help,” someone adds. And then one person (who has been to sheep camp) chimes in, “They are dumb and smelly animals!” The counselor soon puts the lesson together to help the campers remember that the Lord is the shepherd. He cares for us. He holds us together in groups. He saves us from our dangerous and fearful times. He cares for us even as we are dumb and smelly. And he was there right away at our birth just as he was there at our Savior’s birth. Now, which are we as adults? Are we the shepherds or the sheep? Are we the ones who protect others and keep the groups together? Sometimes it seems that we are. We often try and we can help each other. As I was at camp this week, I was amazed at the counselors. These are truly young adults, some of them are only 18 or 19 years old as they work as shepherds. They are keeping the campers safe as they herd them together in groups. The kids follow them together, on paths that have been here at camp as long as the camp grounds have been around. They are paths that lead them from one place to another. They take on this job at such a young age, but they know they can do it because their own Shepherd is leading them. Do you still feel this as an adult? Do you still have the ability to sometimes act as the shepherd? Do we help protect each other as we need protection and keep each other on the right path as we seem to stray? And do we have the ability to do it because you know that your shepherd is always there for you. He is the one who will lead us and protect us all the day of our lives. --Beth Roux Prayer: Dear Lord, first thing when I awake may I seek your righteousness and be satisfied. Amen
Reading: Psalm 17: 1-7, 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: Back when clock radio alarms became popular, my brother tried to make one of his own by wiring the alarm mechanism of his elcectric clock to the power of his cassette tape player. It was a complicated contraption and I am not sure if it ever really worked but the hope was to wake up to something more pleasant than an annoying buzzer or noisy bell. For awhile my husband had an alarm clock that could be set to play different songs: Happy Birthday, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, etc. That was fun. The Psalmist reminds us, "As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness." Psalm 17: 15 That would be pleasant and fun, too. When your alarm goes off - buzzer, bell or music - let your first thoughts be of righteousness and seeking to see God's face. Awaken satisfied. --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 30, 2014.
Prayer: Dear God, your gospel message is good news to all past, present and future. Work with all your people as we commit our lives to you. Amen. Reading: Romans 9:1-5 (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 admit, I had to go to my daughter’s New Student (Study) Bible (NRSV) to figure this one out and I will be drawing from the margin notes. They comment how chapters 9-11 contain some of Paul’s strongest words ever. I obviously would need help!) I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. (v. 2) Rejection by the Jews was a crushing blow to Paul. Members of his own race were rejecting the gospel he had committed his life to and this was so upsetting to him he even offered to forfeit his own relationship with Christ for the sake of his race. (v. 3) Paul just couldn’t rest until he linked the theology he set forth in Romans to God’s past, present and future activity among the Jews. God does not break his promises! Does anything bring more pain to a new Christian than rejection by family or friends? What is good news for the Christian may be seen as bad news by others. Some can melt down the walls of suspicion and hostility while others end up living in emotional quarantine. Same dilemma Paul faced. But God can be trusted. He keeps his promises. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Align your will to ours, God, as we wrestle with you. Amen.
Reading: Genesis 32:3-31 (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: When I was in school, my least favorite unit in gym class was wrestling. One of the reasons is because I just didn’t know or understand the moves so I just did what my instincts told me. More often than not, I got pinned because I didn’t really know what I was doing. Imagine having to wrestle God! Even if you were proficient in the moves of wrestling, I bet God would put it to you every time. Jacob got his hip displaced because of his wrestling match with God. He even got a new name after the match. We may even wrestle with God today. We may be reluctant to do what God might be calling us to do. We may even say, “No.” But God has a way of winning the match. God’s Will will prevail! Getting to know more about “the moves” by reading the Bible might help you to align with God more and help you wrestle less often. When you feel like you are wrestling with our Lord, turn to God’s word to help you find out what move to make next! --Chad Hershberger |
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