Week 1:
First Verse: Genesis 15:5 (Day 1 of our Summer Curriculum)
“He took him (Abraham) outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
God used the stars to show Abraham a promise. God said that Abraham would have as many relatives as there are stars. He wouldn’t even be able to count them all, that’s how many there would be. His promise came true!
Second Verse: Matthew 2: 9-11
“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
God used a star to guide the wise men and lead them to the promised savior, Jesus. All through the Bible God uses people to tell everyone that Jesus, the King, will be born and He will save the world from their sins. His promise came true!
God uses stars to show His promises and to help remind us that He is always there to listen and to guide us. During this season, even when it’s cold outside, put on your jacket, your gloves and your hat and go peek outside and look up at the stars. When you do, remember that God promises to love you and His love never fails.
Week 2:
First Verse: Exodus 17:1-7 (Day 2 of our Summer Curriculum)
In this story Moses is very scared of the people of Israel. He doesn’t know how to give them what they need. They are in the middle of the desert and they are thirsty! Moses sees that they are becoming angry and he asks God for help. God gives Moses the power to hit a rock with his staff and water comes out! Even though Moses often doesn’t feel like he has the abilities to lead all these people, God always helps to give him strength at just the right moments.
Second Verse: Luke 1: 28-33
An angel appeared to Mary to tell her that she would have a son, the son of God, Jesus. She was scared at first but the Angel assured her that God would give her the power to have this child and that Jesus would grow up to be the savior of the world. God chooses those who may feel small or feel they don’t have powerful gifts to offer. But God chooses them for great and powerful things!
Take time to think about your gifts and how you can use them to tell others about Jesus and God’s love. God can give us strength at exactly the right moments to do amazing things!
Week 3:
First Verse: Ruth 1:1-18 (Day 3 of our Summer Curriculum)
Ruth refuses to leave Naomi, even though Ruth could have a bright future if she leaves her. Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi, leaving everyone and everything she knows behind, and follow God. If you keep reading, while life isn’t easy for Ruth and Naomi at first, they stay faithful to God and He provides for them and blesses them.
Second Verse: Luke 2: 4-7
Mary and Joseph are told by God to name their child Jesus, marry one another and travel to many different places. They leave behind their families and everything they know because of their faith in God. But, they get to be the parents of Jesus! God chooses Mary and Joseph to do very hard things because of their great faith and blesses them so much!
Sometimes in life we are asked to do things that are hard or scary, but if we are following God, He can give us the strength to do extraordinary things. Many times we have to give things up in order to follow what God wants, but He always provides just what we need.
Week 4:
This is our final Holiday devotional. We pray that your family can be blessed this season by spending time together in the Word and remember the warmth and Christ-centered community of summer camp as well.
First Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:8 (Our Summer Theme)
Love. Never. Fails. God’s love is perfect. It is the greatest love we will ever know, and we will never fully understand how deep and how wide it truly is. But, we can try to show it to others. And it begins with family. Model God’s love, unconditional, full of grace and mercy and joy. Model it to those closest to you and then begin to share that light everywhere you go. Never hide that light and never forget that when all else may be failing, God’s love never will.
Second Verse: Matthew 2: 11
While it’s fun to give and get presents like the wise men gave to Jesus… it’s easy to forget the greatest gift that cost us nothing.
(John 3:16) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
You are worth it. You are so worth it. May you celebrate Jesus’ birth knowing that you are so deeply loved, you have the greatest gift of all time, and may you remind someone else to know the same today.