Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on April 21, 2016.
Prayer: Praise the Lord! Amen. Reading: Psalm 148 (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 Praise is in our reading over and over. I counted and came up with thirteen times. The list of who and what is to praise the Lord covers just about everything imaginable from all people to all creatures to all creation. I especially like verse 12 as it speaks of young men and young women, old and young together. It makes me think about Camp Mount Luther. The counselors are young men and young women sharing their faith and praising God. As the summer goes along, campers of all ages come - from Pioneers to Empty-Nesters. Then there are the creatures at camp - birds, fish, deer and more - adding to the praise with their song, grace and beauty. Last is the wonder of all creation we experience through outdoor ministry - the sunrises and sunsets, the shelter of the woods and the view from Buffalo Gap. Praise is called for over a dozen times in Psalm 148. I can honestly say, I am called to Praise over a dozen times a day at camp; sometimes all before even getting to breakfast! Come to Camp Mount Luther and join the Praise! --Ruth Gates
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Prayer: Lord, O Lord, you are our one true God above all else. There is no one like you. Magnify our hearts and show your grace in the living of our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Reading: Galatians 4: 4-7 (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: Little things shouldn’t bother us, right? No, but yes they do! I knew a man that would get quite angry when a telemarketer would call and pronounce his name wrong. He would almost yell into the phone, “It’s pronounced AYSH!” If they didn’t correct their pronunciation he would hang up saying, “They don’t know me.” This text is about knowing God. It starts with the basics, “born of a woman…” It is important that we remember and know that our God-Man, Jesus, chose to be fleshy and be born like us. This is no small choice of love. There is no other God that choses to become weak and mortal. Sure a very awesome deliverance was the plan, but still seems very meek and weak. The purpose of the plan is huge: Jesus gives us tremendous power to call God, “Abba.” It is from Jesus’ common language of family and prayer. It literally means Dad or Daddy in common English. Paul knowing that this is shocking adds “the Father,” just to be sure that we didn’t misread or mishear. Paul is saying, don’t use the wrong word for who your God is to you now. Prior to Jesus, such a close loving title was not used for God. Jesus changes that with his birth, brings us into his family and his love. Now his inheritance is ours! Praise be to God! --Andrew Fitch Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on December 22, 2014.
Prayer: Help us to see a glimpse of things to come, God. Amen. Reading: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 (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: Christmas is just days away. What are you dreaming about? Gathering with family and friends, gifts given and received, worship and wonder…all dreams of those who have waited through the weeks of Advent. Our minds are still a flurry with planning and preparing and we look toward the peace of the actual day of Christmas finally here – ready or not. Yet, in the midst of the joys of this season, nightmarish things are happening in our communities, our country and our world; sometimes even in our own homes and friendships. Before we despair with, “What is our world coming to?”, let us remember Isaiah’s message which can mean as much to us today as it did to the Israelites so long ago. Isaiah gives us a glimpse of things to come when all our best dreams will come true. Isaiah describes a new beginning, a time of final triumph and peace. In that day, there will be no need for tears. The prophet’s words are so purposeful and powerful, Old Testament Isaiah is quoted in New Testament Revelation and some phrases are used in common language still today – (“beat their swords into plowshares”). We dream of a time of peace, without pain or fear or disease or death. Isaiah assures us that one day those dreams will come true. What would you most like to see changed about your world? May the celebration of the birth of Jesus be a beginning of your dream being fulfilled. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Loving God, you love us too much! We can barely understand all that you have brought into our world through your birth among us. We love you and praise you—you make life worth living! Amen.
Reading: Luke 2:22-40 (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: Some people might have a “bucket” list of what they want to do before they die, but this Simeon thing is the inverse. Simeon will not die UNTIL he gives witness to the Lord’s Christ. His life could not be called done until after he sees Jesus. God had a short list of things that must be accomplished before Simeon could kick the bucket and say my life is empty and over. I love the beauty of Simeon’s song and the harmonious story of the great prophetess Anna. They both herald the arrival of a new chapter and time for God’s people. There is also a subtle challenge for the reader or listener: What do YOU need to do for God before you die? How are you a part of what God is doing? In what ways do WE need to be an active part of God’s in-breaking kingdom? --Andrew Fitch Prayer: Word of God Incarnate, be with us this blessed day and enliven us to the many ways that your grace awakens us to the joy of your kingdom. Amen.
Reading: Luke 2:1-20 (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: I was often the first one up on Christmas morning as a boy. I am not sure what time I got up, but I think it was around 5 or 5:30. A current confirmation student in my congregation gets up around 3 a.m. Another person asked, “Why?!” She answered for the excitement of finding the presents. For me, sure, part of the “magic” was the curiosity of what would be under the tree. What I remember most, however, was the calm stillness of a new day dawning. As I would approach the tree, the weak blue light of morning didn’t reveal the glitter and twinkle of the night before. Things weren’t as I expected, but were better somehow. No matter how Santa had matched the list, it didn’t matter. Everything was new, fresh, and alive. Perhaps this is one of the most enduring and wonderful gifts of Christmas—the promise fulfilled in the dawn of a new day of creation where God’s presence is known and felt. That reality is great joy and peace for us no matter where or when we might wake up! --Andrew Fitch Prayer: Loving God, keep me mindful of your plan for humanity and your promise fulfilled in your Incarnation, dwelling among us and all the people of the nations. Help us to work your way of peace in a world that doesn’t always listen very well. In your amazing Name we pray, Amen.
Reading: Isaiah 9: 2-7 (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: Stark contrasts come over and over from the great prophet—images of terrible war and commanded peace, shining light and deep darkness, clubs remembered and envisioned shattered… We don’t want to think about the negative images, shuddering in worship when we hear the garment dragged through blood. Yet, can we appreciate the light without knowing darkness is overcome? Is not this the heart of the Christmas perspective that the stores forget? There is no gift like the one of liberation from sin, darkness, and death. There is no god that delivers like the God of our ancestors, God of our lives, and God of our best hopes and dreams. We look forward to the day when we all follow the teachings of God-Man, and our warring ways cease. So let us sing and dance, worship and praise, cheer and toast to our King of Kings. Ruling beyond our expectations, he has delivered on the promise beyond our expectations and far beyond our merit. --Andrew Fitch Prayer: Like the angels the night of the Christ Child’s birth, we joyfully sing. May our songs touch hearts with your love. Amen
Reading: Psalm 96 (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 psalm is truly appropriate for these days leading up to Christmas. The night of the Christ Child’s birth the angels sang of His glory to the humble shepherds in the field. And we continue to sing of His glory.....joyfully and from our hearts. Sing carols! On the corner. Under a lamp post. In the subway. In a nursing home. For all to hear! Many, many, many years ago our youth group played Christmas carols from a second floor window in our church. We used (what today is obsolete) a PA system and 78 RPM records with but one song per side. The music soared through the open air across the Town Common for all to hear. Whose cold and lonely heart might have been touched? --Alice Yeakel Prayer: Glory to you forever, God, through Jesus Christ! Amen
Reading: Romans 16: 25-27 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: It is said Paul's letter to the Romans holds the answers to all of life's important questions and covers all essentials of the Christian faith. It is a book to read slowly and carefully. Today, however, we are only reading the last three verses of the last chapter. How does Paul wrap up this incredible sharing of the gospel? With praise. With a final doxology. I read Augustine, Martin Luther and John Wesley all trace their spiritual renewal to a reading of Romans. Few people would claim to have mastered this book. One could probably spend a lifetime studying Romans but each day we can learn a bit more from God's word and every day we can end with praise. A final doxology. To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen (Romans 16: 27) --Ruth Gates Prayer: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Amen.
Reading: Luke 1: 46b-55 (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 probably a familiar passage to you. It’s Mary’s Magnificant. Lots of songs have been based on these words of the mother of our Lord. A particular favorite of mine is “The Canticle of the Turning.” This is Mary’s song of praise. When I read this, I wondered what my song of praise to God might be. If I were to write my own personal Magnificant, what would I say? What would I say to God? Ponder what your Magnificant would be today. How will you praise God with words and deeds? --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Lord, We are grateful you do not dwell in one place but go everywhere with us. Make a home in our hearts. Welcome. Amen
Reading: 2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 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: My cousin's widow once shared with me how "Home" had always been her answer for the on-line security question, "Favorite place to vacation?" Home. She simply loved being home with her husband. I recentlly did a getting-to-know-you questionnaire. In answer to the fill-in-the-blank Favorite Destination?, I wrote Home. Yet, since home is where the heart is, my "homes away from home" include: Camp Mount Luther, my church home, my childhood home, anywhere with family and a certain mountaintop with friends in WV. I carry home with me. David, having reached his destination and sitting in his home, decided it was time to build a home for the LORD, too. But the LORD, through Nathan, told David, "No." Nathan explained that while God had always traveled with his people; building a home now was not for David to do. Eventually a temple was built by David's son and it was quite elaborate at that. More importantly though, we know God does not dwell in one place but is with us everywhere and wants a home in our hearts. Welcome home. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, we know that nothing is impossible for you. Help us to see you in the big and small things in our lives today. Amen.
Reading: Luke 1: 26-38 (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 we could always remember that with God all things are possible, we would know the miracle of Christmas. A lot gets said at this time of year about the perfect gift, the perfect holiday atmosphere, the perfect Christmas party. But, the real and perfect message of Christmas is that with God, all things are possible. All the things we talk about at this time of year...peace on earth, good will to all. It's all possible, with God. Mary knew it...she asked one question... "how can this be?" And when the angel tells her that nothing will be impossible with God, she simply says "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." We forget that she didn't put up a fuss. She didn't have a long drawn-out argument with God. She just said "okay." Knowing that it might mean a life of shame for being an unwed mother. When God asked her to raise the savior of the world, she said yes. She said yes to the sleepless nights, to the worrying, to the hours of patient teaching, to instructing Him in faith, to seeing Him through his teen years, to helping him become an adult who was wise, and who loved His Father in heaven. She said yes. Because even though she was a teenager herself, Mary knew that when an angel comes to visit you, God means business, and that nothing will be impossible with God. Sometimes it takes a whole group of children to teach us that kind of message. Sometimes when we listen to their words and songs, we start to really understand that before Jesus was our savior, he was a baby. And then he was a little boy, with all the rambunctiousness and adventure of any little boy. And then he was an older boy...and I wonder if he participated in his synagogue like kids participate in our churches today. Their presence reminds us that Jesus was a child who loved God, just like all of us. Sometimes we have our moments of doubt or of uncertainty about faith, but we're all still God’s children, and He loves us, and that's the most important thing to remember. At Christmastime, we get to witness the miracle...the miracle that nothing will be impossible with God. –Sarah Hershberger Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on December 22, 2013.
Prayer: Jesus, you are the reason for this season. Amen. Reading: Isaiah 7: 10-17 (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: What do you do during Christmas to symbolize Jesus’ birth? Often it seems that Christ is taken out of Christmas, as some forget what this season is all about. Growing up, my parents saw to it that my sister and I were reminded time and time again about what we celebrating. Two things stand out in my mind particularly. First, my mom always bakes a birthday cake for the baby Jesus. As is tradition, we usually had angel food cake (we wouldn’t want to have devil’s food cake, after all). On Christmas we cut the cake and remember that it is Christ’s birthday. Second, each one of us gets three gifts in our stockings to represent the three gifts the Wiseman brought to the Christ child. My parents made sure their children did not forget why we celebrate Christmas. My hope is that you don’t let your family forget either. –Chad Hershberger Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on December 11, 2014.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to dream and to live in hope in you as we think of all the possibilities in our lives. Like Joseph, help us to see more clearly the plan you have for our lives. Amen. Reading: Psalm 126 (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 text seems out of place for Advent to me. Granted, it is reminding us to go forth with shouts of joy, and the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany seasons are all about that. I was reminded of that recently when I read another devotional writing about the hymn, “Good Christian Men Rejoice.” The first verse of this passage struck me. It says, “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” That reminded me of some weird dreams I’ve had lately. It seems it has been old home week in my dreams. I dreamed that we had a “redo” of my high school graduation, nearly 25 years later; that we were trying to persuade a high school classmate to move back to the state to run for political office; and I ran into an old friend in another dream, who was visiting from England, and we ran into a bear. When we dream, both in our sleep and when we are awake, the possibilities are endless. And the hope of those possibilities is a perfect message for Advent. When the angel came to Joseph, he was presented with new possibilities, which changed his life (and ours) forever. So, dream away! As we close out another year and look forward to the next, the world is your oyster. And God will have a hand in those possibilities. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Help us to hold fast to what is good. Amen
Reading: I Thessalonians 5: 16-24 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: If you read no other verse in this passage, read the last 6 words of verse 21. “Hold fast to what is good.” Such a basic, simple statement! We are in the midst of the Christmas Season. Opportunities are all around us to DO ‘‘good”, to BE “good’’. We tell our young children you better be “good” or Santa won’t come. Good is such a small word. But what an impact it can have. A smile, a hug, a phone call, a little package of home-baked cookies, a jar of jelly. So let us all hold fast to what is good….not just during Christmas but all year round. --Alice Yeakel Prayer: Spirit of God, shine in our hearts so we may share your Good News and bring light to others. Amen
Reading: Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11 (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: What would it take for the news to be a bit better than the bad news we always seem to get? I am not saying to sugarcoat the stories or to look at the world through rose-colored glasses, but simply hoping to hear a positive story once in awhile. As our local news says, "Today our Bright Spot shines on..." (insert today's heartwarming story of care, service, giving, etc.). Isaiah said the Spirit of the Lord God was upon him and he was sent to bring good news. He had a Bright Spot to share and shine on those who were oppressed and brokenhearted. There may have been bad news the next day but a light still could shine in their hearts and in their lives. Jesus came to give us Good News and the Spirit speaks through us. With the Spirit upon us, like Isaiah, we too can spread good news to others. Who will you bring good news to today? Where will the Bright Spot shine? --Ruth Gates Prayer: May my story be your story, God, of how you work through my life. Help me to share that story with others as often as I can. Amen.
Reading: John 1:6-28 (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: “He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.” –John 1: 7 I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how are to share God’s story with others. We can live our lives in a Christian way, we can treat people well, we can worship and praise God; but, how do we tell how God has worked in our lives. John did that. He was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. He told others about Jesus. I’m starting to wonder if, when I see God working in my life, I need to share that more verbally with others. What do you think? Do you need to do that to? Aren’t we all here on earth to testify to that light that came down to this world as a baby in Bethlehem? --Chad Hershberger Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on December 8, 2013.
Prayer: This Advent season, reveal to us the secrets of your Son, O Lord. Amen. Reading: Amos 3: 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? Additional Questions:
Reflection: There are so many secrets during this season of the year. Packages that are bought and cannot be revealed, projects that are coming to a close that soon be shown, and mysteries surrounding where gifts come from are all secrets we keep during the holidays. Then, on December 25, those secrets are no more. I have a secret that I have been keeping for many years. When I was a camper one summer, we had a contest between my cabin and another cabin. The contest was to see who could clean their cabin the best. The winners would receive a Hershey bar. We worked to get our abode cleaned, but we had some help. The kitchen staff came and helped us to make our cabin bright. They helped us without the knowledge of our counselors and we were told not to tell them. We won and got our Hershey bars. And to this day, I never told my counselor what the kitchen girls did for us. To remind me of the event, I have the wrapper to my Hershey bar in my Bible. It also reminds me that we have no secrets from God. Secret things belong to God, but those that are revealed belong to us and our children forever! --Chad Hershberger Today, meditate on this quote by Napoleon Hill: “Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.” Prayer: We pause and think in our prayers confessing our sins and accepting forgiveness. Amen
Reading: Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13 (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: With a split text like we have today, in reading it we probably all jumped immediately from the 2nd verse of Psalm 85 to the 8th. However, as I understand it, the word Selah in parentheses after verse 2, means pause and think. Here are verses 1-2: Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin. (Selah) Yes, it is too easy to jump over thinking about sin except for a quick read of how we are forgiven. Maybe that is why the Psalmist put a Selah in there. Pause and think. Take a moment then for a bit of confession. Maybe more will come to mind than otherwise. Then take a moment to realize the Lord's forgiveness and pardon. Perhaps it will be felt more deeply. Selah! --Ruth Gates Prayer: Help us to patiently wait for your coming. Thank you for being patient with us. Amen.
Reading: 2 Peter 3: 8-15a (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 friend wrote a children's song about waiting for Jesus through December. Of course, it is hard for children to wait for anything, let alone Christmas. So the last line of the song is, "I'm waiting just as fast as I can." Waiting fast? How do you do that? Definitely sounds like something a child would say. 2 Peter 3 speaks of being patient. Waiting just as fast as I can does not sound like being patient. Yet who wouldn't want something good to happen (like Christmas!) as soon as possible? So, while we might say we are being patient, inside we wish we could be waiting fast. God is patient as He wants all to come to repentance. Seems like that might take forever; like the forever long days of December to a child. Perhaps He is waiting as fast he He can, too. --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 December 2, 2014.
Prayer: Comfort, O comfort all your people. Amen Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 (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: Who can read this passage without singing the opening to Godspell? Maybe you can even hear the blowing of the ram’s horn. What in heaven’s name is that sound and why is it starting a musical? Read the passage again with other tunes in mind and you realize how much of Handel’s Messiah comes straight from the first eleven verses Isaiah chapter 40. From Classic to Contemporary and perhaps a few hymns or camp songs in between, these verses have comforted many through the ages. Oh, but let us not forget the original audience of this prophecy, God’s Chosen People. The Jews were surviving tough times and needed the prophet’s message of hope. The first word: Comfort. The comfort will come through God’s arrival and the people are to prepare the way of the LORD. Cue the ram’s horn and start singing again. This is what comfort sounded like a couple thousand years ago. What does comfort sound like now? This passage hits home today as a family and our community are surviving tough times: a young person lost. There were words of hope in Facebook posts, Twitter messages, video clips and even a song on YouTube. How hard we prayed he would find his way back. How much we believed he would be fed, gathered, carried and gently led home. Somehow though, there is comfort in knowing there was, is and always will be Love for him, his family and all who are in sorrow. --Ruth Gates Prayer: As we wait for you, Jesus, help us to see the worth in all that we meet. Amen.
Reading: Mark 1:1-8 (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: This weekend, my wife and I had a conversation about Joseph, Mary’s husband. We were talking about what she planned to do at her church during Advent and she said she was focusing yesterday on Joseph. She outlined the other weeks of the month and said, “This year, I just can’t do it. I can’t talk again about John the Baptist. He gets so much attention and there are other characters we don’t hear much about in the lectionary.” We then had a discussion about Joseph and his role as our savior’s earthly father. I told her what I thought it must be like to be Joseph. I told her about my experience as an expectant father this time of year. We both agreed there was a lot to learn about Joseph. But, this Sunday our Gospel lesson is about, you guessed it, John. He’s the baptizer. He prepares the way for Jesus and as we’ll hear next month, baptizes Jesus. He has an important role in this story. And that is to remind us that we all need to prepare for Jesus. In this season of Advent, we wait with anticipation and prepare for the Christ-child. Just like John, our lives need to decrease as we allow Christ’s to increase in our lives. So this Sunday, as you hear the Word and the story of John, remember all of those who are preparing for Jesus- John, Joseph, you and me. We each have worth in God’s eyes and play a role in this most important story. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: The glory and grace you show, O Lord, may we see that here on earth. Amen.
Reading: Read a passage today about heaven. 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 was recently reminded of a story that happened to me when I was in college. It was early April 1994, and my college roommate and I went on a bus trip to Pittsburgh to see the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team in one of their last games of the season. We were on the bus for a long time- it took us five hours to get there because we picked up other folks along the way. When we got there, there had been a mix-up with our tickets. They didn’t have our seats reserved for us. They did have seats available, but they were not with the rest of our traveling party. We had to sit in another section of “The Igloo.” Since we were already there, of course we said that would be okay. And, to make it better for us, they gave us free playoff tickets for a few weeks later, got us into the exclusive Igloo Club for that night and the playoff night, and promised us autographed pictures. They even took us to our new seats by doing through the area where the team locker room was located in the arena. They were very conscious of turning a bad situation into a good one for us. A few weeks later, we went to the playoff game. They gave us our autographed pictures of four of the stars of the team, including legend Mario Lemieux. The team won that night and advanced in the playoffs. It was great to be part of that atmosphere and to know that the team took care of us because of their mistake. When I thought about this story recently, I thought about heaven. What do you think heaven is going to be like? I think it’s going to be a place where God will provide for all our needs and we will be happier than we ever can imagine. We’ll get to worship and be with those we love. In heaven, God will provide for us like the Penguins organization did for me so many years ago. It will be an experience we really enjoy! --Chad Hershberger |
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