DevotionalsSummer Camp

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Devotional time: Courage (DaviD anD goliath)

objeCt: a small bag Containing five smooth stonesVerse: Thenhetookhisstaffinhishand,chosefivesmoothstonesfromthestream,putthemin the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:40 (NIV)

WhatdoyouthinkIhaveinthislittlebag?Well,let’stakealookandsee.Hmm...howaboutthat...itissomerocks.Fivesmoothstones.DothesefivesmoothstonesremindyouofaBiblestory?WhenIthinkoffivesmoothstones,IthinkofthestoryofDavidandGoliath.IamgoingtotellyouastoryaboutaboynamedDavid,whousedstonesjustlikethese,toconquerhisfearandhelphimfindcourage.Now,therewasamightywarriornamesGoliath,whowasmorethanninefeettall!Hewasprotectedfromheadtotoebyasuitofarmormadeofbronze.Hisarmoraloneweighedmorethanonehundredpoundsandhewasarmedwitha sword and spear.

David,on theotherhand,wasayoungshepherdboy.Hehadnoarmorforprotection. Itwouldhavebeenmuchtooheavyforhimtocarry.Andhowaboutaswordandspear?No,David’sweaponwasaslingandhisammunitionwasfivesmoothstoneswhichhepickedupfromanearbystream.Andyet,Davidwasabletodefeatagiantthatallofthesoldiersofthe Israelite army were afraid to face.

Youand ImayneverfaceagiantsuchasGoliath,butwefacegiantsofanotherkind inourdaily life.Wefacegiantssuchasfear, insecurity, loneliness,andfailure.Howcanweovercomethosegiantsthatwanttodefeatus?ThesefivestonescanhelpustorememberthestoryofhowDaviddefeatedthegianthefaced.Theyandalsohelpustoknowhowwecandefeat the giants which we face.

•ThefirststonerepresentsCOURAGE-Davidwasnotafraidtofacetheenemy.“Don’tworryaboutathing,”DavidtoldSaul.“I’llgofightthisPhilistine!”(1Samuel17:32NLT)Italsotakescouragetofightthegiantsyouwillfaceinyourlife.Whataretimesthatweneedcourageinoureverydaylives?

•ThesecondstonerepresentsCONFIDENCE-Asashepherd,Davidoftenhad toprotectthesheepfromwildanimals.Thisgavehimtheconfidenceheneededtofacethegiant.“TheLORDwhosavedmefromtheclawsofthelionandthebearwillsavemefromthisPhilistine!”(1Samuel17:37NLT)LikeDavid,youcanhaveconfidencethatGodwillhelpyouovercometheproblemsyoufaceeachday.Whatisbeingconfidentmeantoyou?

•ThethirdstonerepresentsPREPARATION-Daviddidn’tgotofacethegiantunprepared.Hewentdowntothestreamandpickedoutfivesmoothstonesandputtheminhisshepherd’sbag.Then,armedwithhisshepherd’sstaffandsling,hestartedouttofightGoliath.(1Samuel17:40NLT)Itisimportantforyoutodoeverythingpossibletobecertainyouarepreparedtofacethechallengeswhichyouwillmeetinyourdailylife.Howdidwepreparetoday?

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•ThefourthstonerepresentsTRUST-Daviddidnottrustinhisownabilitytoslaythegiant.WhenGoliathshoutedatDavid,cursedhim,andwasreadytokillhim,Davidsaid,“Youcometomewithaswordandspear,butIcometoyouinthenameoftheLORDGodAlmighty.”(1Samuel17:45NLT)Whenyoufaceproblems,putyourtrustinGod,notinyourownability.Whoaresomepeoplewetrust?Whocanwealwaystrustin?GOD!

•ThefifthstonerepresentsVICTORY-“ItisGod’sbattle,notours,”Davidsaid.ThatiswhyDavidwasabletowinthevictoryoverthegiantwithonlyastoneandsling.(1Samuel17:50NLT)WhenyouturnyourbattlesovertoGod,youwillhavethevictoryoverthegiantsinyourlife.Whataresomevictoriousmomentsyouhaveallhadsofar?Maybeyouwonasoccergame?Maybeperformedreallywellinaschoolplay?

So,thenexttimeyouarefacingagiant inyourlife,andwhatcanwethinkoftogiveuscourage?CanwethinkofDavid’sstory?CanyouallcloseyoureyeswhileIsayaprayerforsomecourage?

“DearFather,justasyougaveDavidthevictoryinhisbattlewithGoliath,weknowthatwhenweputourtrustinyou,youwillgiveusthecourageweneedtofaceourfearsinourdailylife.Amen.”

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MONDAY

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Devotional time: using your voiCe (the story of moses)

Wholovestosing?WholovestoYELL!!Wholovestotalk?Well,wearegoingtotalktodayalittleaboutwhatwecandowhenweuseourvoices!LetmetellyouastoryaboutamannamesMoses!

AnewkingwhowascalledPharaohcameintopowerinEgypt.Hedidn’tlikeitthattherewere somany Israelites and he thought theywould oneday take over the land. So hedecidedtomakealltheIsraelitesintoslaves.Hemadethemworkfromearlyinthemorningtill lateatnightdoingveryhardwork.Pharaohdidall thisandhestillwasn’thappy.TheIsraelites were still growing in number so he decided to make a law. If any boys were born to theIsraeliteshewouldhavethemkilled.TherewasababywhowouldbenamedMoseswholivedthere.Hisparents,infearforhislife,madeastrongbasketandplacedMosesinthisbasketinsometallgrassintheNileriver.Pharaoh’sdaughterfoundthebasketandopenedit,andshedecidedtokeephimasherown.AfterMoseshadgrownup,andwasprobablya little older than your parents, he was getting fed up with how his people were treated byPharaoh.Theystillhadtoworksohardalltheseyearslater.OnedayMosessawanEgyptianhurtingaHebrew,oneofhisownpeople,andhebecamesoupsetthathekilledtheEgyptian.AfterthatMoseshadtorunawayfromEgyptbecausethePharaohfoundoutwhathe’ddoneandwasveryangrywithMoses.Mosesleft,andfoundahomeoutsideofthecity.

NowMoseswasoutlookingaftersomesheepandafterawhileendedupnearahill,whenhenoticedabushonfire.Mosessatandwatcheditforawhilebecausesomethingwasn’tright.Thebushwascompletelyonfire,butitwasn’tburningupthebush;therewasnosmoke,justfire.Mosesdecidedtogetcloserandtakeabetterlook.Asheapproachedthebushavoicecamefromtheinsideofit,“Moses!Moses!”MosesthoughtthatthismightbeGod,afterallwhoelsecouldspeakfromabushthatwasonfire,butwasn’tburning.Mosesreplied,“Iamhere.”HecontinuedtowalkclosertothebushbutashegotcloserGodsaidtohim,“IhaveseenallthepainmypeoplehavehadtogothroughinEgypt.Ihaveheardtheirprayersandwanttosavethemfromtheirslavery.Iwanttotakethemtoanotherplacewherethereislotsofgoodlandandplentyofmilkandhoney.SoMoses,IamsendingyoutofreetheIsraelitesfromPharaoh.”“Um,pardonmeGodbutIthinkyourtalkingtothewrongperson.ThisisjustmeMosesI’mjustaregularguy,Pharaohwon’tlistentome,”Mosessaidindisbelief.

AndGodsaid,“Iwillbewithyouandwillhelpyou.Don’tworrytheywilllistentoyou.ButbepatientbecausePharaohwon’tlistenatfirst,butafterthathewillletyougo.”Mosesstilldidn’tthinkhewastherightmanforthejob.“GodwhatiftheIsraelitesdon’tbelieveme,whatiftheysay,‘Ithinkyou’relying,Goddidn’ttalktoyou.’”FinallyGodsaidtoMoses,“IwillsendyourbrotherAaron,infactheisalreadyonhiswaytoseeyou.Iwillhelpbothofyou,andgiveyouthewordstosay.”AfterthatthebushstoppedburningandGodwasgone.

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SoMoseswentoff tofreetheIsraelites,usinghisvoicetohelpothersfindfreedom,withGodshelp.DidMosesbelievethatthepeoplewouldlistentohimatfirst?WhohelpedMosesbelieveinhisvoice?Doyouthinkhecanhelpususeourvoicestoo?Lateron,MosesgoestoEgypt,andgoingtoPharaohmanytimessaying“Letmypeoplego”,hewasabletofreealltheslavesunderPharaoh!Canyoubelievethat?Onepersonfreedallthosepeople!Moseswas justa regularguy,buthisvoice saved the livesof somanypeople.Weare regularpeoplearen’twe?ButwithGod’shelp,ourvoicescanchangetheworld!Let’skeepusingourvoicesaswecontinuethroughtherestofourweek!

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TUESDAY

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Devotional time: Change (the story of saul)

Howmanyofyouhavemovedbefore?Howmanyofyouwentfromasmallbed,toabiggerbed?Changeshappenallthetime,right?Somechangesareeasy,andsomecanbehardright?Let’stalkaboutachangethathappenedtoamannamesSaul.

SaulwasanangrymanwhodidnotlikeChristiansatall.Heyelledandscreamedatthem.Hemadenastythreats.Hebeatthemandsometimesevenkilledthem.Saulwasdefinitelynotamananyonewouldwanttotrytobefriend.Onthisparticularday,Saulwastravelingto thecityofDamascus.Hewantedthe leadersof thecity togivehimpermission tohurtmoreChristians.Asheandhisfriendsweremakingtheirwayalongthedustyroad,discussingwhat they were going to say to the leaders, and bragging about how happy they would be toreceivepermissiontopersecutetheChristians,whensuddenly...fromoutofheaven,camethebrightestlightSaulhadeverseen.ThelightsurroundedHim.Hetriedtocoverhiseyestoshieldthelight,butitwassobrightthatitstillhurthiseyes.Hefelldownonthegroundtryingtogetawayfromit.Thenheheardavoice.Itwasunlikeanyvoicehehadeverheard,saying,“SAUL!SAUL!Whydoyouwanttopersecuteme?”Saul,notrecognizingthevoice,said,“Whoareyou?”

Theanswercameback,“IamJesus.”

Ofcourse,Saulwasterriblyafraid.Hewasshakingandtremblingandcouldhardlyspeak.Inaweakvoicehesaid,“Lord,whatshouldIdo?”Jesusreplied,“Gointothecity,andsomeonewill meet you and tell you what to do.”

WhenSaulwasabletogetupofftheground,heuncoveredhiseyes,buthecouldn’tseeanything. The light was so bright it had blinded him. For three whole days he couldn’t see anythingatall.WhileallofthiswashappeningontheroadoutsidethecityofDamascus,somethingelsewashappeninginsidethecity.TherewasaChristianmannamedAnaniaswholovedtheLordverymuch.Godspoketohiminavision,tellinghimtogodownthestreettofindSaul.Now,AnaniashadheardallthestoriesaboutSaulandhewasn’tveryfondofthisplan.AnaniasspoketotheLord:“Whatifhehurtsme?WhatifheevenwantstoKILLme?Areyousureaboutthis,Lord?”IwouldbescaredifIwasAnaniastoo,wouldn’tyou?

TheLordspoketoAnaniasagain,reassuringhimthateverythingwouldbefine.AnaniasfoundthehousewhereSaulwasstayingandwentinforavisit.Whilehewasthere,heprayedforSaulandtheblindnesslefthim.TheLordhealedhimsohecouldseeagain.SaulstayedinDamascuswith theChristians.Hebecamegoodfriendswith themandlearnedfromthem.Itwasn’tlongbeforeSaulbecameapreacherteachingpeopleaboutJesus.Everyonewasamazed!Theycouldn’tbelievethatthiswasthesamepersonthathadhatedthemsomuchand wanted to kill them.

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DidyouallseeabigchangethatSaulwentthroughduringthisstory?Cananyonetellmewhatthatchangewas?Haveanyofyouhadtodealwithchange?Aswegrowup,wehaveto deal with a lot of changes, which can be scary, but we can look back on this story and see how change is good. Change helps us grow into better people!

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WEDNESDAY

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Devotional time: forgiveness (the story of joseph anD his brothers)

Haveanyofyoubeeninafight.Maybewithmomordad,orafriend?Maybeyousaidsomethingyoudidn’tmean,andwantedtotakeitback?Ormaybesomeonesaidsomethingthathurtyourfeelings,andlatercamebacktosaytheyweresorry?ThisisthestoryaboutayoungmannamedJosephwhoalsohadhisfeelingshurt.Let’sfindoutwhathedid!

Josephhadelevenbrothers;andonlyhadonebrotheryoungerthanhim.Canyouimaginehavingelevenbrotherstoplaywith,orfightwith?BecauseJosephwasoneoftheyoungestsons,hisfatherspentmoretimewithhim,andhebecameveryspecialtohim.SohisDadhadaspecialrobemadeforJoseph.Sortoflikeaspecialjacket.Itwasverybeautifulandhadeverycoloryoucouldimagineinit.AllofJoseph’solderbrotherssawthisandtheygotveryjealous.TheythoughthisfatherlikedJosephmorebecausehegotthespecialcoat.Hisbrotherssaid.“Doyouthinkthatyouarebetterthanallofus?Doyouthinkthatwewouldeverbowdowntoyou?”Oneday,Josephcametothem,theytookoffhisbeautifulrobeandtheythrewhiminanemptywell.AlittlewhilelateragroupofpeoplecamebythatwerewantingtosellsomethingsinEgypt.Oneofthebrothersspokeup,“Whydon’twesellhimtothesepeople,thiswayweneverhavetoseehimagain.”Theotherbrotherslikedthisidea,sotheysoldhimtoanassistanttothePharaohofEgypt.Therestofthebrotherstoldtheirfather,thatananimalkilledJoseph.AndtheirDadcriedformanydays,somuchthatnobody could comfort him.

NowJosephhadstartedoutasaslave,buttheLordwaswithJosephandHehelpedhimdoeverythingright.SothePharaoh’sassistantmadehimhishelper,andputhiminchargeofeverythingthatheowned.OnedayJosephupsettheassistant,andwassenttojail.AfterJosephhadbeeninjailforsometimenow,hemetacupbearerandbaker.Onenighteachofthemhadadream.TheytoldtheirdreamstoJosephandhetoldthecupbearerthathewouldsoonbefreedoutofjail.“PleasetellPharaohaboutme,andaskhimtogetmeoutofhere.”Josephsaid.WhenthecupbearerwasfreedheforgotaboutwhatJosephdid.

SoJosephstayedinjailfortwomoreyears.UntilonedaythePharaohhadadream,andnobodycouldexplainittohim.ThecupbearerthenrememberedwhatJosephhaddoneforhim,andJosephwasbroughttoPharaoh.“Canyouunderstanddreams?”Pharaohasked.“Ican’t,butGodhelpsme.”Josephreplied.AfterPharaohhadtoldhimhisdreamJosephexplained,“Godiswarningyou.Therewillbesevenyearswhennothingwillgrowandtherewon’tbeanyfoodforanyone.”“WhatcanIdo?”Pharaohasked.“Godhasshownyouwhattodo.Therewillbesevenyearsbeforethebadyearsthatwillbeverygood;sogoodthattherewillbeextrafoodforeveryone.Soyoushouldsavealittlebitofeachyears’harvest.Thatwayyouwillhaveenoughtogetyouthroughthebadyears.”Josephsaid.

PharaohbelievedallthatJosephtoldhim,andputhiminchargeofallthelandofEgypt.PeoplecamefromallcountriestobuygrainfromJoseph,becausethewholeworldwasinneedof food. Someof thosepeoplewere Joseph’s brothers. When his brothers came,Josephrecognizedthem,buttheydidnotknowwhohewas. (Ithadbeenover10years

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since they had seen him). The brothers all bowed to him because he was an important person. AfterafewmeetingswithhisbrothershecouldnotkeepitinanylongerandJosephsaidtohisbrothers,“IamJoseph!Ismyfatheralive?”Buthisbrotherscouldn’tanswerhimbecausetheywereafraid.ThenJosephsaid,“Comehere.Iamyourbrother,theoneyousold!Donotworry,anddonotbeangryatyourselvesforsellingme,becauseGodhasputmeheretosavepeoplefromstarving.”Sohisfather,hisbrothers,andtheirfamiliescametoliveinEgyptwithJoseph,andtheyhadallthefoodtheyneeded.

Wow!Whatastory!WhydoyouthinkJosephforgavehisbrothers?Doyouthinkthatwaseasyforhim?Whatwouldforgivingsomeonebehard?Isitgoodtoforgiveothers,evenifitshard?Sohowcouldweapplythathereatcamp?

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THURSDAY

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Devotional time: sharing goDs story

TheBibletellsusthatloveisfromGodandthatGodislove.TheneatthingaboutGod’sloveisthatit’snotafeelingtohim,hecan’tfalloutoflovewithus.Helovesusevenwhenwe’renotloveableandwhenwe’regrumpyordoingbadthings.Helovesallofusnomatterwhat.ThetrickypartislovingotherslikeGodlovesus.God’sloveismuchdifferentthanthemushykissy stuff that you see on TV or all around you. It’s not bad to be mushy with your family butsometimesitshardertoshowotherpeoplehowyoulovethem.Wecan’tjustgoaroundkissingeveryonetoshowthemourlove!Thereisaspecialkindoflovewecanhaveforothers,it’scalledagapelove.Thisdoesn’thavetobemushylove,justseepeopleasGodwouldseethem.PretendforadaythatyouhavespecialglassesonandthateveryoneyouseeyoulovejustbecauseGodlovesthem,likethewayyouloveamomordad,brotherorsister.I’msureyou’llrunintosomebodyyoudon’tthinkdeservesyourloveoryoujustdon’twanttoloveatall,butGodlovesthemandifweloveGodwearesupposedtolovethemtoo.

Whodoyoulove?Letthemanswer.

Whoexactlyarewesupposedtolove?

*LoveGod*Loveyourself*Loveyourfamily*Loveyourfriends*Loveyourneighbors*Loveyourenemies

WhataresomewaysthatwecanloveGod?Letthemanswer.It’snotashardasyouthink.Howdoyoushowothersyoulovethem?Wetalktothem,trytogettoknowthembetter,listentothem,andsometimeswedothingsforthem.WecandoallthesethingsforGod.WemightnotbeabletotouchHimbutwecanpraytoGod,readtheBibleandlearnabouthim,obeyHimanddothethingsheasksustodo.Wearealsosupposedtoloveourselves.Thisdoesn’tmeanthatweshouldthinkwe’rebetterthaneverybodyelse.WegetthisfromaBibleversethat says do for others as you would want them to do for you. This means we should take careofourselves.Thingslikelookingbeforewecrossthestreet,eatingourvegetables,andgettingagoodsleepatnightarewayswecandothat.Rememberthatifyou’reaChristiantheSpiritofGodlivesinsideusandhewantsustotreatourselveswithrespect.

Lovingourfamilyishopefullyprettyeasy.Eventhoughwegetmadatourparentssometimesbecausetheydon’tletusdosomething,westilllovethem.Justrememberthatyouarepartofafamilyandnothingwilleverchangethat.Youshouldalwaysbeabletodependoneachotherandthey’llbetheonestotellyouthetruthbeforeanyoneelse.Lovingourfriendsshouldbe easy because we pick the people we want to be friends with. The thing is, sometimes when wedisagreewithourfriendswethinkwedon’thavetobetheirfriendanymore,butGod’slovewouldaskustoforgivethemandtrytoworkthingsout.

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Howmanyofyouhaveneighbors?Areyourneighborsonlythosethatlivenextdoor?Letthemanswer.Neighborsaren’t just thepeoplewholivenexttoyoubutareeveryoneyoumight run into. I don’t want to encourage you to run up to strangers, but think about helping otherswithlove.Byhelpinganelderlyladywhoneedshelpwithhergroceries,returningawalletfoundonthestreet,orevenprayingforpeopleonthenewsthatareintroublearejustafewwaystoloveaneighbor.Ihopeyoudon’thaveanyenemiesbuttherewillalwaysbesomeonethatyoudon’tgetalongwithorbelievestheoppositeofwhatyoubelieve.ByaskingforGod’shelpwewillbeabletoloveourenemieseasierwhenwejustcan’tdoitonour own.

LearningtolovelikeGodtakesalongtimeandtakesGod’shelp.It’seasiertolovethantohate,sohavelotsoffunlearningtoloveGodandeveryonearoundyou!

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FRIDAY

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Devotional time: bravery (goD gives me Courage)

Hasfeareverscaredyou,madeyouafraidtodosomethingormakeadecision?Howdoyoutrytobattleyourfears? Let’stalkaboutayoungjewishgirlnamedEsther,whohadtofindcouragethroughherfear.ThekingoftheMedesandPersians,searchedforanewqueen.Esther,ayoungorphan,wasamongthewomenthekingorderedbroughttothepalace.EstherdidnotrevealheridentitytoKing,yettheKingchoseherasqueen.Atthistime,therewasaplottohurtalltheJewsinthekingdom.OneoftheKingsofficersapproachedthekingandinformedhimthattheJewsdidnotkeeptheking’slaws.HeconvincedtheKingthatthiswastrue.WhenEstherlearnedof this news, she knew that if she did nothing, she risked death along with all her countrymen inthekingdom.ShewonderedwhatifGodhadelevatedEsthertoherpositionasqueenforthespecificpurposeofhelpingsaveherpeopleatthiscriticaltime?(Esther4:13-14).

Whatadecision for suchayoungwoman!Death seemedcertain regardlessofwhat shedecided.Shemusthaveprayedandagonizedoverherdecision.Shewassickenedwithfearfor herself and her people.

In themidst of her turmoil, Esther realized she could notallow fear toparalyze her intoinaction;thatinitselfwouldbeadecision.Instead,shelefttheoutcomewithGod.Itwasclearshe had only one real choice.

EstherknewshedidnothavethecouragewithinherselftofacetheKing.Butshedidknowwheretogoforthecourageshelacked.(whodoyouthinksheturnedto?)GOD!Thenshepromisedtogobeforetheking,knowingfullwellshewasriskingher life(Esther4:16). Intheend,theKingsparedEsther’slife.Thekingissuedanewdecree:TheJewswerefreetodefendthemselvesandthejewsweresaved.

Shewasprettybravehuh?

Sometimeswefeellikewehavetobebraveallbyourselves,butGodlovestohelpusandhe’stherewheneverweask.Let’stalkaboutsomethingsthatscareus.Allowthekidstoshare.It’s normal for you to be afraid sometimes, and that’s a lot like walking around in the dark. Youdon’tknowwhat’sgoingtohappen.ButwhenyoucanaskGodtocomeinandhelpyou,it’sliketurningonalightandmakingallthatfeargoaway.That’swhatitmeanstobebrave.AndwithGod’shelp,youcanbeareallifeSuperhero!

Let’stakealookatourmemoryversefortoday.We’regoingtoreadthistogether.“ForIcandoeverythingthroughChrist,whogivesmestrength.”–Phillippians4:13

Idon’tknowaboutyou,butIlovethattheBiblesaysGodgivesusthestrengthweneedtodoanything.Allwehavetodoisaskhimtobewithusandheis!

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Devotional time: using your voiCe (ConfiDenCe)

Yesterdaywetalkedaboutsomethingeverysuperheroneeds,doesanyonerememberwhatitwas?Allowforanswers.Right,bravery!Todaywe’regoingtotalkaboutsomethingelseeverysuperheroneedsandthat’ssomethingcalledConfidence.Ask:Doesanyoneknowwhatconfidenceis?Allowthekidstorespond.Let’sseeifwecanexplainthisalittlebetter.

Askthekidsanumberofquestions.Startwitheasyoneslike:“WhatcolorisSam’sshirt?”Or“HowmanyfingersdoesTaylorhave?”Asthekidsanswer,askthem,“AreyouSURE?”Prodthemwith“Areyouabsolutelypositive?”Theyshouldbepositiveoftheiranswers.

Next,askthemotherquestionslike“HowolddoyouthinkIam?”or“WherewasIborn?”Allowforresponsesandprodthemthesamewayyoudidwiththemorefact-basedquestions.“Areyousure?”and“Areyouabsolutelypositive?”

Bythesoundofyourvoices,doesitseemlikeyouareascertainaboutthesequestionsasthefirstone?Howoldareyou?Allowthemtorespond.Andyou’resurethat’showoldyouare?That’showitfeelstobeconfident.Youknowtheanswer.You’repositive.You’recertain.AnddoyouknowsomethingI’mpositiveabout?I’mpositivethatGodlovesyou.I’mpositivethatGodgaveyouallvoicesforareason.Andhewantsyoutoalwaysbeconfidenceinyourvoice,forhehasapurposeforeachandeveryoneofyou!

LetstalkabouttwomennamesCalebandJoshuawhoweretestedintheirconfidencelikeyouwerejustnow.

CalebandJoshuaarrivedinthewildernessofParan.Godcommandedtosend12peopletothelandofCanaan,whichwasthelandGodhadpromisedtheIsraeliteswhenHehadMosesleadthemtheoutofslaveryfromEgypt.After40days,the12peoplereturneddiscouraged,sayingthatthelandwasbeautiful,fertileandflowingwithmilkandhoney!Yet,allofthemexcludingCalebandJoshua,wereconcernedabouttheenemiesthatwerelivingthere,ratherthanbeingconfidentinthepromisethatGodhadgiven,thatthelandwouldbecometheirs.Calebwasconfidentthattheycouldovercometheirenemies,butthenegativityamongalltheothersweresogreat,thatitcausedthewholenationtomournallnight.TheywereevengoingtoelectanewleaderandheadBACKtoEgypt.

Nevertheless,JoshuaandCalebarosefromtheirsorrow,andtriedtoencourageconfidenceinthefellowIsraelitessaying“Thelandwetravelledthroughandexploredisawonderfulland!...Itisarichlandflowingwithmilkandhoney……DonotrebelagainsttheLord…TheLordiswithus!”(v7-9).

CalebandJoshuaweresoconfidentinthepromiseGodhadgiventothem,thatthesizeoftheenemydidnotmatter.TheyknewGodhadpromisedthislandtothemandtheyknewthatGodwaswiththem,whichwouldhaveledtotheirvictory.Wetoo,whenfacedwithproblemsthesizeofmountains,cantakecourageinknowingthatGodiswithusandthatwearenotalone.

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TUESDAY

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Devotional time: honesty

Beingaheroisaboutsomuchmorethanwearingacapeorflyinginthesky.Thetruthis,thereareheroesallaroundus.Doesanyoneknowareallifehero?Allowthekidstorespond.Whataresomethingsthatmakesomeoneahero?Allowforanswers.Aheroisapersonwhodoestherightthing.Let’sthinkaboutthisforamoment.Imagineyougotoafriend’shouseandtheyhaveavideogamethatyouknowyouaren’tallowedtoplay.Yourmomanddadwillprobablyneverknowifyouplaythisgame.Whatdoyoudo?Letthekidsthinkaboutthisandrespond..Okay,now,pretendyouareatthestoreandyouwalkoutandrealizeyouneverpaidforthetoyyouwereholding.Butnoonenoticed!Youcanjusttakeitrighthome.Whatdoyoudo?Whatifyougotoarestaurant,sitdownatthetableandfindawalletfullofmoneyontheseatnexttoyou.Whatdoyoudo?

Inthebible,thereisastoryabouttwobrother.One(namedJacob)favoredbyhismotherandone(Esau)favoredbyhisfather.Theirfatherwasdying,anditwastimeforhimtogivehis blessing to one of his sons. This blessing was go announce good fortune for the future, greatnessandmanychildren.Onedaythefather (named Isaac)calledforhiseldest sonEsau. Isaactoldhimtoprepareamealforhim,andthenhewouldgivehiseldestsonhisblessing. Themother (namedRebekah)was listening to their conversation,and ran to tellJacobthatshewouldprepareamealforhim,dresshimup,andpretendtobeEsauinordertoreceivetheirfathersblessinginstead!!Theywantedtotrickhim!ThemotherputJacobinEsau’sclothes,andplacedgoathaironJacobsarmstofeelmorelikeEsau.Jacobtookthefoottohisfather’sroom,liedaboutbeingEsau,andreceivedhisfather’sblessinginstead.WhentherealEsauarrived,hefeltsobetrayed.

WhatshouldhaveJacobdone?WasJacobaheroofthisstory?

Intheend,eventhoughJacobreceivedhisfather’sblessing,hehadworsefortunethanhisbrotherEsauendedupachieving.Yousee,beingaheromeansdoingwhat’srightnomatterwhat.Evenwhennooneiswatching.Evenwhenitishard.It’snotalwayseasytodotherightthing,butit’simportant.Deepdown,weknowwhatisright,andwehavetofollowthatfeelingofwhatisright,versusthetemptingfeelingofwhatwewant.Wewanttodotheheroicthingright?Villainsdowhatkindsofthings?Letthemanswer.Whatkindsofthingsdoheroesdo?Wewanttobelikeourheroesright??

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Devotional time: perseveranCe (the story of Daniel anD the lion’s Den)

Today,I’mgoingtotellyouastoryaboutsomeonewhonevergaveup,butI’mgoingtoneedyourhelp.“Cast”thekidsinpartsofthestoryandeachchildhastoactouttheirpartasyounarrate the action.

You’ll need: •Daniel•KingDarius•TheKing’smumbly,grumblyleaders•Lions

Oncekidsarepickedforparts,readthestoryofDaniel:

Daniel and the lions’ DenOnceuponatime,long,longago,therelivedaking.HisnamewasDarius.(thekingstandsCenterStage.Hecanwaveorboworsay“I’mKingDarius.)Atthattime,therewasamanlivinginthekingdomnamedDaniel.DanielwasmuchsmarterthantheotherleaderssotheKingdecidedtoputhiminchargeofthewholekingdom.(DanieljoinsthekingCenterstagelookingverysmart.Ifthechildisn’tresponding,ask“Daniel,howdoesitfeeltobeinchargeofthewholekingdom?”)

This made the other leaders very angry and jealous. Theymumbled and grumbled andcomplained.(Allowthekidstomumbleandgrumble.Again,iftheyareshy,askthem“Whydidn’t the kingpick you tobe the leader?Does he likeDanielbetter? Encourage lots ofmumbling and grumbling.)

TheleadersweresoangrytheydecidedtocookupaplantomakeDaniellookbad.ThedecidedtotrytotrapDanielinalie.Theymadealawthatsaid,“NoonepraysexcepttotheKing!”(Havethegrumblykidsrepeatthisafteryou)

Danielheardaboutthelaw,butheonlybelievedinprayingtoGod,sothat’swhathedid,sameasalways.(Danielgetstohiskneesandprays.Prompthimifnecessary.)ThejealousleaderssawDanielprayingtoGodandtheywenttothekingandtoldhim“Danielisignoringthelaw!HepraystohisGodthreetimesaday!”(Promptthemtorepeatthisafteryou.)

ThekingreallylikedDaniel,butadecreecouldn’tbechanged,andheknew,hehadtothrowDanielintothelion’sden.(Kingcansay“Ihavetothrowyouintothelion’sden.)Ashedid,thekingsaidtoDaniel,“YourGodisgoingtogetyououtofthis.”

Thelionswerehungry,andtheyroaredbecausetheywereabouttoeatDanielfordinner!(lions can stalk him and roar or growl)

Butthenextmorning,thekingrusheddowntotheden,calledouttoDaniel,(havetheKingdothis)anddoyouknowwhathappened?Danielanswered!HetoldthekingGodhadsentanangeltoprotecthim.(Danielcanrespond:“Godsentanangeltoprotectme.”)Thekingwassohappy,hehadDanielhauledoutofthelion’sdenandtherewasn’tascratchonhim!

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THURSDAY

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Afterthestory,ask:•WhydoyouthinkDanieldidn’tstopprayingsohedidn’tgetthrownintothelion’sden?•Tellmeaboutatimewhenyouwantedtogiveup.

Say:Sometimesit’seasyforustowanttojustgiveupandquittrying,butGodwantsustokeepdoingwhat’sright,nomatterwhat.Danielcould’vestoppedpraying,butheknewGodwantedtotalktohim,sohedidwhatwasrightandGodprotectedhim.Let’stakealookattoday’smemoryverse:

“Solet’snotgettiredofdoingwhatisgood.Atjusttherighttimewewillreapaharvestofblessingifwedon’tgiveup.”—Galatians6:9

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Devotional time: sharing goDs story

TheBibletellsusthatloveisfromGodandthatGodislove.TheneatthingaboutGod’sloveisthatit’snotafeelingtohim,hecan’tfalloutoflovewithus.Helovesusevenwhenwe’renotloveableandwhenwe’regrumpyordoingbadthings.Helovesallofusnomatterwhat.ThetrickypartislovingotherslikeGodlovesus.God’sloveismuchdifferentthanthemushykissy stuff that you see on TV or all around you. It’s not bad to be mushy with your family butsometimesitshardertoshowotherpeoplehowyoulovethem.Wecan’tjustgoaroundkissingeveryonetoshowthemourlove!Thereisaspecialkindoflovewecanhaveforothers,it’scalledagapelove.Thisdoesn’thavetobemushylove,justseepeopleasGodwouldseethem.PretendforadaythatyouhavespecialglassesonandthateveryoneyouseeyoulovejustbecauseGodlovesthem,likethewayyouloveamomordad,brotherorsister.I’msureyou’llrunintosomebodyyoudon’tthinkdeservesyourloveoryoujustdon’twanttoloveatall,butGodlovesthemandifweloveGodwearesupposedtolovethemtoo.

Whodoyoulove?Letthemanswer.

Whoexactlyarewesupposedtolove?

*LoveGod*Loveyourself*Loveyourfamily*Loveyourfriends*Loveyourneighbors*Loveyourenemies

WhataresomewaysthatwecanloveGod?Letthemanswer.It’snotashardasyouthink.Howdoyoushowothersyoulovethem?Wetalktothem,trytogettoknowthembetter,listentothem,andsometimeswedothingsforthem.WecandoallthesethingsforGod.WemightnotbeabletotouchHimbutwecanpraytoGod,readtheBibleandlearnabouthim,obeyHimanddothethingsheasksustodo.Wearealsosupposedtoloveourselves.Thisdoesn’tmeanthatweshouldthinkwe’rebetterthaneverybodyelse.WegetthisfromaBibleversethat says do for others as you would want them to do for you. This means we should take careofourselves.Thingslikelookingbeforewecrossthestreet,eatingourvegetables,andgettingagoodsleepatnightarewayswecandothat.Rememberthatifyou’reaChristiantheSpiritofGodlivesinsideusandhewantsustotreatourselveswithrespect.

Lovingourfamilyishopefullyprettyeasy.Eventhoughwegetmadatourparentssometimesbecausetheydon’tletusdosomething,westilllovethem.Justrememberthatyouarepartofafamilyandnothingwilleverchangethat.Youshouldalwaysbeabletodependoneachotherandthey’llbetheonestotellyouthetruthbeforeanyoneelse.Lovingourfriendsshouldbe easy because we pick the people we want to be friends with. The thing is, sometimes when wedisagreewithourfriendswethinkwedon’thavetobetheirfriendanymore,butGod’slovewouldaskustoforgivethemandtrytoworkthingsout.

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FRIDAY

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Howmanyofyouhaveneighbors?Areyourneighborsonlythosethatlivenextdoor?Letthemanswer.Neighborsaren’t just thepeoplewholivenexttoyoubutareeveryoneyoumight run into. I don’t want to encourage you to run up to strangers, but think about helping otherswithlove.Byhelpinganelderlyladywhoneedshelpwithhergroceries,returningawalletfoundonthestreet,orevenprayingforpeopleonthenewsthatareintroublearejustafewwaystoloveaneighbor.Ihopeyoudon’thaveanyenemiesbuttherewillalwaysbesomeonethatyoudon’tgetalongwithorbelievestheoppositeofwhatyoubelieve.ByaskingforGod’shelpwewillbeabletoloveourenemieseasierwhenwejustcan’tdoitonour own.

LearningtolovelikeGodtakesalongtimeandtakesGod’shelp.It’seasiertolovethantohate,sohavelotsoffunlearningtoloveGodandeveryonearoundyou!

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DevotionalsSummer Camp