Prayer: Dear God, teach us to live in faith, love and hope so we may face tough times. Give us joy deep, deep down in our hearts. Amen
Reading: I Thessalonians 1: 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: When Paul remembers his friends in Thessalonica, he gives thanks that they live out their faith in daily life, love one another and keep hope. (I Thess. 1: 3) He also knows this will help get them through the tough times they may have. For the Thessalonians, the tough times involved persecution because of their belief in one God in the midst of people who worshiped many idols. How did they do it? By the power of the Holy Spirit received with joy. Joy! I wrote another devotion using words from the song, I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in my Heart. Everyone knows that one. There is another “joy” song from Camp that is similar but completely different and, honestly, impossible to describe but I’ll try. (Calmly sing) J…O…Y Down in my heart, Deep, deep down in my heart. (CPR motions) J…O…Y Down in my heart, Deep, deep down in my heart. (CPR motions) Jesus put it there (exaggerated pointing to heaven and then to heart) And nothing will DESTROY, DESTROY, DESTROY (scream, shake fists and stomp) “Aaaaggggghhhhhh!” (utter exasperation) (Restore total calm) J…O…Y Down in my heart, Deep, deep down in my heart. It really is a lot of fun. If you are having a tough time, I suggest this song. There is a tune but really the best parts are the motions – from keeping our hearts going; to pointing to where joy comes from and goes to; to stomping and yelling just to get all the frustrated feelings out. And then back to calm. Back to JOY! --Ruth Gates
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Authors
Anyone is welcome to contribute! If you'd like to write for us, please e-mail [email protected] Email
Get our daily devotions delivered to your e-mail box each day by signing up below:
Archives
May 2022
Subscribe |