Devotional Passages for the Week of May 13-20

Sunday: 1 Samuel 14:1-52, John 7:31-53, Psalm 109:1-31, Proverbs 15:5-7

Monday: 1 Samuel 15:1-16:23, John 8:1-20, Psalm 110:1-7, Proverbs 15:8-10

Tuesday: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4, John 8:21-30, Psalm 111:1-10, Proverbs 15:11

Wednesday: 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24, John 8:31-59, Psalm 112:1-10, Proverbs 15:12-14

Devotional Passages for Week of May 7-14

Monday: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21, John 5:1-23, Psalm 105:37-45, Proverbs 14:28-29

Tuesday: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22, John 5:24-47, Psalm 106:1-12, Proverbs 14:30-31

Wednesday: 1 Samuel 5:1-7:17, John 6:1-21, Psalm 106:13-31, Proverbs 14:32-33

Sifting Season

I love driving by wheat fields. I can’t say that I have ever been much of a farmer, but I’ve learned a little bit about the harvesting process of wheat. I once heard a difficult period of life thought of as a time of  “sifting.”  The person was referring to Luke 22 where Jesus is talking to the disciples on the night he is arrested. It says,

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

Devotional Passages for the Week of April 22-29

Sunday: Joshua 24:1-33, Luke 21:1-28, Psalm 89:38-52, Proverbs 13:20-23

Monday: Judges 1:1-2:9, Luke 21:29-22:13, Psalm 90:1-91:16, Proverbs 13:24-25

Tuesday: Judges 2:10-3:31, Luke 22:14-34, Psalm 92:1-93:5, Proverbs 14:1-2

Jesus and Politics 101

It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that TV viewership goes down during an election year. I say that because I can’t be the only one who despises political campaign commercials.  Yes, they are incessant and repetitive, but the thing that really gets to me is the pie in the sky promises of good.  I heard one the other day that communicated that under Candidate A’s leadership, services would be protected and expanded, jobs would be created, the deficit would be reduced, our borders would be strengthened, etc., etc., all while taxes would be reduced.  He should have just thrown in the promise to end world hunger and all children would grow up to be professional athletes.  The sad thing is, this tactic works.  It’s how you get people to follow you.  So much good with apparently no cost to anyone. 

So when I read Luke 14:25-35, where Jesus tells those who are following him that they must hate their families, their own life, and pick up there cross and follow Him in order to be His disciple...

Ain’t No Rock!

It’s a beautiful, 80 degree day here today at Lake Gloria … Summer is on the way and the quiet Rec Deck, Games Lodge and Dining Hall will be bustling with activity and excitement in no time at all.  In fact, I can almost hear the dining hall singing, ringing loudly out the screens and across the lake.  One of my favorites is “Aint’ no rock.”  (which, by the way, is going to be a track on the SB2W Dining Hall Songs project that will drop sometime this year … yep, that’s right!  You heard it here first … we’re putting some of your favorites together for you to enjoy all year long. :) 

Devotional Passages for the Week of April 15-22

Sunday: Joshua 11:1-12:24, Luke 17:11-37, Psalm 84:1-12, Proverbs 13:5-6

Monday: Joshua 13:1-14:15, Luke 18:1-17, Psalm 85:1-13, Proverbs 13:7-8

Tuesday: Joshua 15:1-63, Luke 18:18-43, Psalm 86:1-17, Proverbs 13:9-10

Wednesday: Joshua 16:1-18:28, Luke 19:1-27, Psalm 87:1-7, Proverbs 13:11

Thursday: Joshua 19:1-20:9, Luke 19:28-48, Psalm 88:1-18, Proverbs 13:12-14

Friday: Joshua 21:1-22:20, Luke 20:1-26, Psalm 89:1-13, Proverbs 13:15-16

Saturday: Joshua 22:21-23:16, Luke 20:27-47, Psalm 89:14-37, Proverbs 13:17-19

Sunday: Joshua 24:1-33, Luke 21:1-28, Psalm 89:38-52, Proverbs 13:20-23

Where's The Cross?

Easter is upon us, and no doubt we are reminded of it in store windows, aisles and ads as ubiquitous amounts of bunnies, eggs, pastel colors, and egg hunts inundate our lives.  It is remarkable to me how hidden from view is the cross of our Lord and His resurrection amidst this most important Christian “holy”day.  Christmas is a wonderful celebration of the advent of our Lord in human flesh, but without Good Friday and Easter we would be “of all men most miserable” as stated by Paul in I Corinthians 15:19. 

So where is the cross?  Many people will miss the true meaning of Easter this year, not even once acknowledging Jesus in prayer or considering His sacrifice on the cross.  But if you read your Bible with any regularity, you will find God’s love for sinners and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross from cover to cover.  Often called “the scarlet thread”, you can encounter Christ on nearly every page of your Bible.  Jesus and his sacrifice are prefigured in the Garden of Eden as God slays an animal, shedding innocent blood, in order to cover the sin of Adam and Eve.  We see salvation by God’s hand in the account of Noah.  The story of Abraham and Isaac is a “type” of God sacrificing his only begotten son.  And in a reading from this week, we see a law from Deuteronomy that is carried out over fourteen hundred years later at the crucifixion of our Lord.  Chapter 21 verse 22 and 23 says, “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God.”  This verse motivated the Pharisees’ request to have the body of Jesus taken off the cross before nightfall (see John 19:31).

This verse from Deuteronomy is referenced in Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’”.  The point of Galatians 3:13 is that Christ, though innocent, died a criminal’s death, taking the curse that we deserved.  We are the ones who have sinned and deserve to be cursed.  We are the ones who have allowed his atoning work to be forgotten amidst the commercialized hullabaloo.  Yet Christ bore the law’s curse in our place, hanging naked on a tree in order to give us peace with the Holy God of heaven.  What an AMAZING SAVIOUR!  Christ died as a propitiatory sacrifice that satisfies the divine judgment against sinners, bringing about forgiveness and justification. But Paul is careful to indicate that the sacrifice does not cause God to love us. The opposite is true—God’s love caused Him to offer His Son (see Romans 5:8; 8:32; John 3:16).

So how about you?  Do you love Him and want to see Him magnified?  It starts with willingly surrendering your life to Him by faith, which will motivate you to declare His love to every creature with whom you come in contact.  Let us keep the cross and Christ’s resurrection at the center of our Easter.

Devotional Passages for Week of April 2-9

Monday: Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30, Luke 9:51-10:12, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 12:11

Tuesday: Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19, Luke 10:13-37, Psalm 75:1-10, Proverbs 12:12-14

Wednesday: Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26, Luke 10:38-11:13, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 12:15-17

Thursday: Deuteronomy 28:1-68, Luke 11:14-36, Psalm 77:1-20, Proverbs 12:18

Did you pick up your cross this morning?

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

The Vertical Piece

At the beginning of every term at camp one of our captains picks up a large log over his shoulder and carries it into the assembly area planting it in the ground.  Then he goes to the mic and tells us that it is the vertical piece of the cross, which represents right relationship with God.  This is exactly the image I have in my head for how our day should begin.  Picking up our cross daily means beginning each day by seeking right relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Every morning we must plant that vertical piece in the ground.  Oswald Chambers says it like this, "Get rightly related to God first, maintain that as the greatest care of your life." Submit yourself, and the day ahead, to God.

The Horizontal Piece

The next captain picks up a smaller log over her shoulder and walks in to place it on the vertical piece.  She says, "the horizontal piece of the cross represents our relationships with others."  The horizontal piece rests upon the vertical piece, just as...

Devotional Passages for Week of March 26-April 2

Monday: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25, Luke 7:11-35, Psalm 68:19-35, Proverbs 11:29-31

Tuesday: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20, Luke 7:36-8:3, Psalm 69:1-18, Proverbs 12:1

Wednesday: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22, Luke 8:4-21, Psalm 69:19-36, Proverbs 12:2-3

Thursday: Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32, Luke 8:22-39, Psalm 70:1-5, Proverbs 12:4

Deuteronomy 1 Devotional Moment with T. Pope

Devotional Passages for Week of March 19-26

Monday: Numbers 28:16-29:40, Luke 3:23-38, Psalm 62:1-12, Proverbs 11:18-19

Tuesday: Numbers 30:1-31:54, Luke 4:1-30, Psalm 63:1-11, Proverbs 11:20-21

Wednesday: Numbers 32:1-33:39, Luke 4:31-5:11, Psalm 64:1-10, Proverbs 11:22

Thursday: Numbers 33:40-35:34, Luke 5:12-28, Psalm 65:1-13, Proverbs 11:23

Friday: Numbers 36:1-Deuteronomy 1:46, Luke 5:29-6:11, Psalm 66:1-20, Proverbs 11:24-26

Saturday: Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29, Luke 6:12-38, Psalm 67:1-7, Proverbs 11:27

Sunday: Deuteronomy 4:1-49, Luke 6:39-7:10, Psalm 68:1-18, Proverbs 11:28

Monday: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25, Luke 7:11-35, Psalm 68:19-35, Proverbs 11:29-31

Thirsty?

Numbers 20:8 …"Speak to the rock…and it will pour out its water"

200 feet off the ground leashed to the rock by a rope, I found myself staring at the creek far below.  People were swimming and splashing in the water surely satisfied by its cool wetness. Seneca West Virginia in mid-summer is hot. The sun baked any exposed skin and there was not a spot of shade on the wall. Another 200 feet up and then a rappel and hike back down. It would take hours and I was thirsty and well on my way to dehydration.

Devotional Passages for Week of March 12-19

Monday: Numbers 16:41-18:32, Mark 16:1-20, Psalm 55:1-23, Proverbs 11:7

Tuesday: Numbers 19:1-20:29, Luke 1:1-25, Psalm 56:1-13, Proverbs 11:8

Wednesday: Numbers 21:1-22:20, Luke 1:26-56, Psalm 57:1-11, Proverbs 11:9-11

Devotional Passages for Week of March 5-12

Monday:  Numbers 4:1-5:31, Mark 12:18-37, Psalm 48:1-14, Proverbs 10:26

Tuesday: Numbers 6:1-7:89, Mark 12:38-13:13, Psalm 49:1-20, Proverbs 10:27-28

Wednesday: Numbers 8:1-9:23, Mark 13:14-37, Psalm 50:1-23, Proverbs 10:29-30

Thursday: Numbers 10:1-11:23, Mark 14:1-21, Psalm 51:1-19, Proverbs 10:31-32

Friday: Numbers 11:24-13:33, Mark 14:22-52, Psalm 52:1-9, Proverbs 11:1-3

Saturday: Numbers 14:1-15:16, Mark 14:53-72, Psalm 53:1-6, Proverbs 11:4

Sunday: Numbers 15:17-16:40, Mark 15:1-47, Psalm 54:1-7, Proverbs 11:5-6

Monday: Numbers 16:41-18:32, Mark 16:1-20, Psalm 55:1-23, Proverbs 11:7

Talk to yourself much?

 If you ever were to walk into the Summer's Best Two Weeks office in the off-season it's quite possible you might hear one of our full time staff guys talking to himself.  Granted, all of us do this from time to time, but this person does it often.  Most commonly he can be heard pumping himself up, saying, "C'mon [insert name]" or sighs of discouragement "ohhh [insert name]!!"  Interestingly, this practice is found in the Bible. 

Worth the Wait

Worth the Wait

Psalm 40:1-21 (NIV) “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.“

“Are we there yet?” “What’s taking her so long?” “How long will I continue to struggle with …?” “Why doesn’t God seem to be listening to my prayers and answering them?” Let’s face it … waiting is difficult. It’s not easy. It requires self-discipline and in many, if not all, cases an understanding of why we should exercise patience. You’ve no doubt had the experience of waiting for someone and wondered what was causing their delay – like when you’re waiting outside of a grocery store for someone you love, but they seem like they’re taking forever and you’re wondering if the are just trying to torture you or forgot you were outside and you somehow think that each minute that passes is an hour and the game comes on in 15 minutes and you can’t believe you may miss the beginning and your schedule for the day will have to be thrown out … (deep breath) … not that I’ve ever experienced that myself :) Waiting is so hard for us, in part, because we live in a culture that promotes immediate gratification – why wait when you can have it (or something somewhat like it or at least a little bit like it or maybe not at all like it, but a reasonable substitute) right now.

Willing and Able

Willing and Able

Whether he can’t get his shirt on right, the puzzle pieces just won’t go together or his Thomas train tracks won’t line up, “Help please!” is the response of choice for my 2 year old son Luke. And since he has experienced me come to his rescue time and time again in the past, he is well aware of my ability to fix the situation. What he is really asking and sometimes pleading is, “Daddy are you WILLING to help?” Though I sometimes give him opportunity to figure it out on his own there are other times when my lack of action is due to my unwillingness. I put my needs above his.

In Mark 1:40 we see the account of a leper that kneels before Jesus and says, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” I love that here was never a question about Jesus ability to perform the act. The only uncertainty was Jesus’ willingness. As I read this story I can kind of see the fate of us all hanging in that brief moment before Jesus responds. Is God’s son willing to respond with compassion? Is he willing to heal? Is He willing to fix that which is broken? Will God get involved in the messiness of this world and our lives? My heart leaps when I read Jesus’ response, “I am willing: be cleansed.”

Wow, the God of the universe is willing to help. And not only in this one account but as we read, every time he is asked. And this willingness to heal the leper, or the blind and cripples is a foreshadowing of Christ’s willingness to make right the ultimate example of brokenness in the world, our separation from Him. Our sin has left us in the desperate position of crying out “Help please!” I am so thankful that my cry does not fall on deaf ears, but rather on ones full of compassion, ability, and readiness.

God is able as the Psalmist declares in Psalm 33:6-7,
“’By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap
He lays us the deep in storehouses.”

And just as importantly, He is willing.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matt 7:7

-SH

Devotional Passages for the Week of February 12-19

Sunday: Exodus 34:1-35:9, Matthew 27:15-31, Psalm 33:12-22, Proverbs 9:1-6

Monday: Exodus 35:10-36:38, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 34:1-10, Proverbs 9:7-8

Tuesday: Exodus 37:1-38:31, Matthew 28:1-20, Psalm 34:11-22, Proverbs 9:9-10