We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on September 27, 2016.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I, a faithful servant to your heavenly house, a servant small and delicate like a mustard seed, commit myself to you. Amen. Reading: Luke 17: 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: I remember when my grandmother used to wear a necklace around her neck with a small globe as the pendant. In this globe was a mustard seed, so small and delicate. As a child, I never fully understood the meaning of this. The reference to the mustard seed in the first part of this passage is significant because it represents the Great power that is obtained from having faith in God. Even with the smallest amount of faith (the size of a mustard seed), we, as Christians, are given the great power of God’s love. Similarly, in verses 7-10, we are reminded that in comparison to God, we are no more than slaves. As Christians of faith, we must devote ourselves to God the way a servant devotes his life to a master. Thus, we are as small and delicate as the mustard seed in comparison to God, our master. With this in mind, I now see that my grandmother’s necklace is more than a symbol of faith. It is also a symbol of servitude, the servitude of committing oneself to God’s will. --Courtney Dunn
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Prayer: Help us to know you by your love, God. Amen.
Reading: I John 4: 19-21 (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: Two of the most misused and misunderstood words today are love and hate. Hate has digressed to social rejection and displeasure, and likewise love to mere enjoyment or excitement and both often towards material objects. Love of God, love of family, love of friends, these are places where we can have real love and experience it in return. Love requires an element of truth. When we truly love, we do so in an understanding, appreciation, and connectedness between each other. It is easy to fall quickly in love with someone or something we hardly know, but this is shallow and dies quickly. Love gets stronger with a deeper understanding. The exact opposite is true for hate. The more we understand about those we “hate” the less we are able to hate them (although they may “tick us off”). If we had a true understanding of the world we would see God in everyone. Hatred of another human is the product of ignorance towards God. You cannot truly love God without understanding what that means and seeing what God is. If you hate your brother or sister, or anyone who you know, then you don’t love god, who you don’t know. --Jack Bagby We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on September 22, 2016.
Prayer: Be our refuge and strength, Lord, this day and forevermore. Amen,. Reading: Psalm 91: 1-6, 14-16 (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: A little something different for our devotional today. Let’s have a little bit of a history lesson! When I read this passage, I was reminded of the song “On Eagle’s Wings” that we often sing in church. But, I didn’t see reference to an eagle here. So, I decided to find out more about the hymn. According to Wikipedia, “On Eagle’s Wings” was written by Michael Joncas in the late 1970s. He based it on both Psalm 91 and Isaiah 40:31. It’s now song at Catholic masses and at Protestant services. In fact, it was performed at many of the funerals of 9/11 victims 15 years ago. It was also sung at the funeral Mass for Luciano Pavarotti. And now that we are done with our history lesson, let’s switch classrooms and have an English lesson. Wikipedia also tells me that Joncas stated that his preference for the title would be “On Eagle’s Wings,” showing that the wings belong to one single eagle (a metaphor for God). But, he said he could also argue that the title could be “On Eagles’ Wings,” since many wings would be needed to lift up the multitude of God’s people. Neat! If you’ve never heard this song below, we’ve included a link below to a YouTube video with Josh Groban singing this hymn. The words are also included. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrLafWZxczI --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear God, we praise you for your greatness and the grace you show us every day. Help us to keep every moment in perspective, knowing that you hold our futures. May we follow you and fight the good fight for the true faith. Amen! Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-19 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: In this passage Paul encourages his readers to flee from tangible riches (like money and possessions) and to instead, pursue righteousness and to fight the good fight of the faith. I chose to write on this passage because I had a special connection to it and I thought it could speak to you as well! During my four years at Grove City College I was a member of the club field hockey team and it became a very pivotal experience in leadership for me and in my faith journey. During my sophomore year our team verse was a portion of 1 Timothy 6:11-12, and our chaplain found really creative ways to tie this verse into what our mission was as a team. Yes, we still worked hard to be strong players on the hockey field and to play with purpose, strength and aggression! But this verse for us was all about perspective and sportsmanship. We put a portion of the verse on the back of our shirts (“Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, and perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith.”), and we printed small cards with the verse written on it to tape to our field hockey sticks where we could see it as we played. Our chaplain would talk with us about how we could live out our faith on the field in our attitudes and interactions with other players. We would lift each other up through the game in field hockey in a way that I had not experienced on any other team I have been a part of. I even had teammates literally pick me up when I was down. Playing sports isn’t the only outlet in which you can make “your good confession known in the presence of many witnesses.” In all that you do, fight the good fight for the true faith. Remember who holds the future and do all that you do to serve and glorify God, whether that is shooting a goal, teaching your students, or [insert your career or hobby here]! --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: Everlasting God, help us to trust what we do today may be for something long-range in planning but will come to be as you will. Amen
Reading: Jeremiah 32: 1-3a, 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: In our text today, Jeremiah buys up family property while it was still occupied by the Babylonians. What was he thinking? Doesn't seem like a sound investment except that God told him to do it and so Jeremiah showed faith that God would bring his people back. A worthless field now but it would grow valuable if, no, WHEN Jeremiah's heirs returned from exile. I heard on the news recently that a real Major League baseball game is going to be played on the Field of Dreams of the Kevin Costner movie by the same name. The whole premise of the movie was, "If you build it, they will come." By the end of the movie Hollywood style, they did come. Turns out they are going to in real life, too! Think of a time when what you were doing seemed outrageous but in long-range planning could, no, WOULD prove sensible. Is there something nudging you now? Long-range planning. It works out in the movies. It can work in real life. It's a good idea in God's will. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Caring Father, may we remember to care for the sick and the helpless. Amen
Reading: Luke 16: 19-31 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The beggar man and the mighty king, are only different in name. For they are treated just the same - by Fate. These are the opening lyrics to a song called, "Bluebird of Happiness" that was popular many years ago. God welcomed Lazarus, who was sick and helpless, into heaven. The rich man, however, was not welcomed. Why? Perhaps the rich man hoarded his wealth rather than sharing it with those who were struggling. Lazarus, poor as he was in life, ate the crumbs that dropped from the rich man's table. In the end, the rich man begged for a drop of water. God asks those who have much to be aware of the needs of the unfortunate. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Dear God, thank you for your never-ending presence when we find ourselves lost or in trouble. May we always turn to you when needing refuge and strength. Help us to be still and trust that you are a good God. Amen. Reading: Psalm 46 (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 sing a song at camp called “Be Still and Know That I Am God,” and we often sing it as an introduction at campfire on Sunday nights as a way to start building a community that includes all campers. After the chorus, which includes a lot of clapping and quotes verse 10, “be still and know that I am God…” (if you are frequent visitor of camp, I am sure you just sang that in your head), everyone is instructed to have some sort of interaction with other campers and staff members. The verses usually include fun ice breakers like, “all you gotta do is shake someone else’s hand…” After working at camp for four summers and being a camper for even more, while reading this Psalm I immediately think of the camp song, but after more reflection I thought that the song really doesn’t seem to fit the Psalm. Verse 1 talks of God being our refuge and an ever-present help in trouble, and in verse 10 it tells the reader to be still. This camp song doesn’t ask us to be still at all, it is actually the opposite. But what if being still can mean something different. What if being still means stilling your mind of worry and apprehension when in a new or troublesome situation and just going with the flow? What if being still means trusting God and meeting that new person or two, asking questions when you feel lost, and humbling yourself to allow God and others to help you? --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: God, we praise you for how you pause to weep with us in our sorrows and for how you continue to work everything for our good. Help us to remember your kindness and to turn to you, for you will meet us where we are. In your almighty name, Amen.
Reading: Psalm 79:1-9 (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: When reading this Psalm there are feelings of desperation and sorrow that come through the verses. Because of the expression of these feelings, this particular Psalm is a lament. Lamenting isn’t necessarily a pleasant thing to do, but think of a time where you felt overwhelming grief or sorrow, and then try to think of a moment when it began to feel like it was turning around. In the Psalm, leading up to verse 9 each preceding verse expresses lament, and then verse 9 turns to God for help and forgiveness. When I think of a lament, I think of the song “Weep with Me” by Rend Collective (you can listen here: https://youtu.be/GAGqvq4N_zQ ). This song is about how God will meet us in our grief and our sorrow and will weep with us. And just as the psalmist asks for God’s help and forgiveness in verse 9 of Psalm 79, the song turns to say, “help my unbelief…” And then flips to a love song, praising God for what he has done to care for our weeping hearts! --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: We pray for joy. We pray our love for Jesus, our care for others and your blessings. Amen
Reading: I Timothy 2: 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: Pray for JOY: Jesus - that He will remain in your heart and thank Him for His steadfast love Others - who are ill and in need; who have lost loved ones, or a job or their home; those who are mean-spirited and angry; who seek to inflict pain and dissention; who are challenged; who are unhappy Yourself - to remain humble and helpful; always mindful of your blessings Take note which list is the longest. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Healing and loving God, make us whole and heal our souls. Revive us as we share the love of Jesus. Amen
Reading: Jeremiah 8: 18-9: 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: I write this reflection a couple days before a memorial service for a dear woman of our church. She was in her late nineties when she passed away. Her husband died young and one of her five children, too. Yet she had a cheerful and thankful spirit through to the end. I happen to know her favorite hymn was There is a Balm in Gilead and that it will be sung at the service. So, of course, today's reading has me thinking about Ardis. The prophet Jeremiah asks, "Is there no balm in Gilead?" With a hymn in her heart, Ardis believed that yes there is. There is a balm to make the wounded whole and to heal the sin-sick soul. Discouraged and thinking your work is in vain? The Holy Spirit revives the soul again. Feeling like you cannot preach or pray like Peter or Paul? Just tell the love of Jesus who died for all. Thank you, Ardis. Thank you, God. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: When faced with concerns of not being able to manage a situation, may we look to you Lord for wisdom and calm. Amen
Reading: Luke 16: 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: The manager in this parable was rather shrewd as he solved his money problem. On the 10 o'clock news there is a segment called Money Matters which gives all kinds of advice. There might be a recession. Should we sell our stock?" Perhaps keep our money in the mattress? It becomes so easy to worry and obsess about finances. The school tax is too high; along with oil and gas prices. This summer we painted half our house. Maybe in a year or two we can afford to paint the other half. We make do with what we have when we have it. Meanwhile God is watching over us and we are blest. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Give us the wisdom and courage to serve you, O Lord, and show others your love in all that we do. Even when we serve breakfast! Amen.
Reading: Romans 8.11-21 (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: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”—Romans 8:14 Last month, my family and I traveled to Niagara Falls for a little family vacation. We decided to stay in Buffalo and got a hotel room downtown. One of the perks of staying at the Hampton Inn was their complimentary breakfast. The first morning we went to eat, I met Connie. Connie was the hotel employee who prepared the breakfast items and made sure everything was well stocked. When I arrive the first day, I went to make a Belgian waffle for my kids and she told me how the machine needed a new part but it was able to be used. She just had to make sure that there wasn’t a mess underneath it and that her boss didn’t see because technically she wasn’t supposed to use it. But, she knew her guests, especially children like mine, wanted their waffles! I made the waffles, we all sat down to eat, my children enjoyed their breakfast, and I heard Connie telling everyone the story about the waffle machines. Her voice travelled in the small breakfast area. She was a person who you could tell enjoyed her job and serving people. Before we left, Connie’s path crossed mine and I thanked her for making sure we could make waffles. I told her that she was my hero for the day. She replied, “I’m not a hero. I’m just a child of God.” Her words stuck with me. Her identity is all wrapped up in being God’s child and serving others. We saw Connie the next two days we were there and she continued to treat us with respect and love, with a servant’s heart. In fact, the last morning we were there she told us she wasn’t even supposed to be there but they were short-handed so she came in for a while to make sure everything was set for breakfast. She was on her way home to take a nap. Guess what? As we were carrying our suitcases to the car, there she still was at the hotel—serving. I hope I can be more like Connie. She truly is a hero—and a child of God! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Restore us to joy as you are our refuge. Amen
Reading: Psalm 14 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I grew up with the Pennsylvania Dutch saying, "Too soon old and too late smart." The Psalmist asks, "Will evildoers never learn...?" Psalm 14: 4a (NIV) Sounds hopeless, doesn't it? Yet the Lord is our refuge and will restore us. God is with us as we learn and as we face troubles. It's not too soon to find refuge in the Lord. It's not too late to be restored. Rejoice! -- Ruth Gates Prayer: God, we praise you for your never-ending grace! Help us to spread your trustworthy message with others. In your holy name, Amen.
Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: At the start of his letter to Timothy, Paul tells of the grace that God has showed him “the worst of sinners.” The purpose of this letter was to encourage Timothy in his ministry and Paul tells of God’s immense grace in his life to remind Timothy to share that trustworthy saying with others- that God’s grace is always within your reach! To be honest, I had a bit of a brain block when I tried to write this. For as often as we talk about God’s grace at church and at Camp Mount Luther, it is still really difficult for me (and probably many others) to grasp. Paul’s explanation is short and sweet, but gets right to the point. God’s grace is simply beyond anything humans are capable of and that is what makes it so amazing! It is indescribable, incomprehensible, and immeasurable --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: Creator God, may we do our best to follow your teaching and not undo all the good you have done. Amen.
Reading: Jeremiah 4: 11-12, 22-28 (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: (notes from the NRSV Study Bible - New Student Bible) - Jeremiah 4: 23 - Return to the Void - Jeremiah used words from Genesis 1: 2 to describe the effect of the Israelites' sin. It was as though the Israelites were carrying the earth back to the chaos before creation, destroying all the beauty and order God had made. Jeremiah is talking to the Israelites about their undoing. Undoing something already done and good. Reminds me of something that happened with my children. There was a day when the two of them were having trouble getting along. It was also laundry day and the freshly washed linens were ready to go back on the beds. So, my bright idea was to have the children help each other make their beds. Working together might build cooperation and teamwork. I handed them the sheets and pillowcases and encouragd them to get to it. Apparently my son struggled quite awhile to get the pillow into the case. No sooner had he dropped the finally encased pillow on the floor to move on to getting the sheets on the bed, his little sister, who had given up on wrestling with the sheets, picked up the pillow and shook it back out of the case. And the troubles began again. I guess I could have done a better job teaching them the steps of making a bed. God created and it was good. The prophet Jeremiah told the people they were pretty much undoing all God had done. If only they would follow what they had been taught. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, find us when we are lost so we may find our joy in you. Amen
Reading: Luke 15: 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: Robert Blake wrote a lovely little poem “Little lamb, who made thee?” He married Catherine, a woman who could neither read nor write. He taught her and later she helped him illustrate and print his poetry. (This was in the 1780s). A number of years ago our daughter Ruth and I were hiking the British countryside and we came upon a little lamb whose head was caught in the wire fencing. She somehow climbed into the pasture and freed the lamb who happily pranced off. Then Ruth had to figure a way out which was not as easy as getting in. I wrote a poem about this...now if I could only find it? I will be happy when I do! God rejoices when one of his lost is found and we are invited to join the celebration. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to live in a way that shows your love in our heart and see every part of creation with eyes like yours. Amen.
Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (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: In this passage Samuel chooses David to be anointed as king, and in verse seven Samuel mentions what the Lord would look for in a king. I chose this passage today because my favorite biblical and religious studies professor, Dr. Bibza, mentioned this passage to my freshman Old Testament class during my first week of undergrad. He briefly brought it up as a piece of advice as to where we should focus our hearts as we began college. His advice really stuck with me and since that class I have had a small notecard taped to my mirror with a portion of that verse written on it, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” It serves a good reminder when I start my day in front of my mirror, not only to keep in perspective that the Lord does not value my outward appearance as the world does, but also not judge to a person by their appearance! Ask yourself, “does this reflect well on who made my heart?” and “do I see others for who they are, a child of God?” --Anne Harshbarger Do you enjoy these devotions and think you'd like to try your hand at writing them? Anyone wishing to come and write devotions for Camp Mount Luther’s First Light Digital Devotions is welcome to join other writers on October 8, 2019. The retreat will be from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Evergreen Center. It will be a day of writing and sharing resources for devotional writing. You don’t need to stay the whole time! Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to the camp office at [email protected] or 570-922-1587 before September 30, 2019.
Prayer: Good morning, Lord. When I awak, I am still with you. Guide me through each day. Amen
Reading: Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: When I awake, I am still with you. Psalm 139: 18b (NIV) Good morning, Lord. It's a beautiful day. Good morning, Lord. I'm going your way. Open my eyes that I may see, someone who needs a friend like me. I know that I can surely be, loving, caring, always sharing. (Sunday School song from memory) -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the grace and forgiveness you constantly show us. May we learn to show that same grace and forgiveness to others. In your name, Amen.
Reading: Philemon 1-21 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: As I searched for which passage to write on, I was very excited to see this one as an option since I have recently reviewed it with some dear friends. Here is some of what we discovered: Philemon is a very unique book of the Bible for many reasons, and the one that stands out the most to me is its length. It is so short, it does not even have chapters! But even though this book is short, it should not be overlooked! This is one of Paul’s prison letters, and he is writing to his friend Philemon about Onesimus. Onesimus was Philemon’s slave, but had since run away from him, so he was in big trouble with Philemon. Paul is writing to ask Philemon to forgive Onesimus. What really stuck out to me was verse nine, when Paul says he “prefers to appeal to you (Philemon) on the basis of love.” This appeal is something that we need to do as well. I once misplaced a person who was very important to me, and without explanation, I let them slip through the cracks of my busy schedule to focus on newer things. But this friend was so important to me and once they brought my mistakes to my attention, I knew I needed their forgiveness. I needed to humbly appeal to them on the basis of love. Hoping they would show me love and grace. Thankfully that friend did forgive me and we rebuilt our relationship. I often still recall that experience, and nothing can bring back the time that was lost, but it serves as a reminder to me to remain humble and to not take anything or anyone for granted. I hope this passage serves as a reminder for you to see the power of love, grace, and forgiveness. And especially the power of God’s forgiveness and grace when you appeal to him on the basis of love. --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 August 31, 2016.
Prayer: Mold me and make me, Lord, after your will. Amen Reading: Jeremiah 18: 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 a Potter works clay on the wheel, from the very start he is forming the final product. Every move affects how the piece turns out. Sometimes along the way something goes wrong. The clay gets squashed back down to start over. But there is still hope it will turn out right the next time. The Lord told Jeremiah to go to the potter's house. Jeremiah watched the potter working at his wheel. The vessel he was making was spoiled. He kept the wheel going and reworked the clay into another vessel, as seemed good to him. We sing a hymn that speaks of the Lord as a potter and we ask to be molded after His will. There may be times when we feel we are spinning on a wheel but God's hand is always on us. There may be times when we feel squashed back down but there is always hope in His will. --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 August 29, 2016.
Prayer: As your follower, may I look to you, Lord, to see what I need to do to follow you in better way. Amen. Reading: Luke 14:25-33 (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: I’m reading a book that is based on the premise that Jesus did not come two thousand years ago but instead came to earth in modern times. It is pretty interesting reading about how Jesus was born in a Motel 6. I just read the part where he resurrects a modern day Lazarus and they have to call in the vault company to open the sealed vault and casket. There is also a modern retelling of today’s scripture passage. The character of Christ, Eli Shepherd, tells his followers that they must give up everything to follow him. The main characters hesitate, and ask if he really means it. Which makes me ponder—do I really give up my life to be a follower of Jesus? Today, I’m going to think a little bit about the stuff that gets in my way to truly follow Jesus 100 percent. I hope you will take some time to think about that, too, and make some changes in your life. –Chad Hershberger |
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