Devotional and Spiritual Practice Guide

Devotional and Spiritual Practice Guide

Purpose: This Summer Devotional Packet is designed to give us all as members of a community of believers a way to stay connected to God, and one another during the summer. Often summer has many of us traveling and busy and the hope is that this packet will give us all a way to reconnect and remember that God is still with us during the summer. How to use this devotional: Each page designates a week of the summer and offers two types of devotions or practices for the week. The packet is designed so that it can be practiced as an individual, small group, or family unit. For individuals we recommend you keep a journal with your end of the day reflections instead of practicing it out loud with others. Each page in the Devotional goes with a week of the summer. On these pages you will see a Theme for the Week, a Renewal Practice, and Faith Five Scriptures. The theme sets the tone for the week s scriptures, the renewal practice is meant to be done once sometime throughout the week and is meant to help you practice stepping into God s grace through rest, play, and delight. These are practices that should bring joy and renewal to your summer days and remind you of God s goodness. The Scriptures are to be used at the end of every day as part of something called faith5 that helps you reflect on your day in light of God. How to practice Faith5: The image to the right is on your weekly pages to give you a quick and easy reminder of the five steps to end your day with. Share, Read, Talk, Pray, and Bless. Tips: If practicing this devotional individually keep things in your journal and replace the blessing with prayer for others. IF practicing this as a family with younger children you may want to read the scriptures from a children s Bible. Bless on another means offer some form of blessing before they go off to bed. You could sign the cross of their forehead and say things such as, You are loved,, God bless you on this day and always., I bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit or anything else meaningful to you.

Week of June 12th Theme: Creation Weekly Renewal Practice: Spend some time outside this week enjoying God s creation (biking, hiking, enjoying a lake view, etc.). 12th - Genesis 1:1-5 13th - Genesis 1:6-8 14th - Genesis 1:9-13 15th - Genesis 1:14-19 16th - Genesis 1:20-23 17th Genesis 1:26-27, 31 18th - Genesis 2:1-3

Week of June 19th Theme: Moses Weekly Renewal Practice: Play a board game or do a puzzle this week and enjoy delighting in God s love of play. 19th - Exodus 3:1-4 20th - Exodus 3:5-10 21st - Exodus 3:11-12 22nd - Exodus 3:13-15 23rd - Exodus 34:1-3 24th - Exodus 34:29-32 25th - Exodus 34:33-35

Week of June 26th Theme: Women of the Old Testament Weekly Renewal Practice: Media fast fast from TV and social media this week to create extra room in your life. 26th - Ruth 1:15-16 27th - Genesis 25:20-21 28th - Exodus 2:1-6 29th - Judges 4:4-5 30th - Judges 5:1-3 1st - 1 Samuel 2:1-2 2nd - Esther 4:12-16

Week of July 3rd Theme: The Prophets Weekly Renewal Practice: Volunteer somewhere this week or do something kind for someone who isn t expecting it. 3rd - Hosea 6:3 4th - Isaiah 42:1-4 5th - Micah 6:8 6th - Isaiah 61:1-3 7th - Jeremiah 29:11-13 8th - Daniel 4:10-12 9th - Jeremiah 24:7

Week of July 10th Theme: Psalms Weekly Renewal Practice: Read a good book, or listen to some good music this week. 10th - Psalm 46:1-3 11th - Psalm 139:13-18 12th - Psalm 37:3-6 13th - Psalm 51:10-12 14th - Psalm 37:4-7a 15th - Psalm 28:6-9 16th - Psalm 86:11-13; 15

Week of July 17th Theme: Rulers of the Old Testament Weekly Renewal Practice: Do something for yourself this week and remember that you are loved. 17th - 1 Samuel 3:3-10 18th - 1 Samuel 12:20-22 19th - 2 Samuel 7:27-29 20th - 1 Kings 3:5-9 21st - 2 Kings 23:1-3 22nd - 2 Samuel 22:1-4 23rd - 1 Samuel 17:4, 45, 48-49

Week of July 24th Theme: The Birth of Jesus Weekly Renewal Practice: Try something new this week, it could be food or an activity, get creative! 24th - Mark 1:1-8 25th - Luke 1:26-33 26th - Matthew 1:18-24 27th - Luke 2:5-14 28th - Mark 1:9-11 29th - John 1:1-8 30th - John 1:9-14

Week of July 31st Theme: The Life and Ministry of Jesus Weekly Renewal Practice: Find some intentional time to call or video chat with a friend or family member who lives far away. 31st - Matthew 4:18-22 1st - Matthew 5:13-16 2nd - Mark 2:13-17 3rd - Luke 6:27-31 4th - Luke 9:10-17 5th - John 12:12-16 6th - John 15:1-8

Week of August 7th Theme: The Disciples and Followers of Christ Weekly Renewal Practice: Go on a picnic this week and spend time in fellowship with others to remember God s gift of community. 7th - Matthew 10:1-8 8th - Luke 10:1-2 9th - Matthew 14:25-31 10th - John 3:1-3 11th - Luke 10:38-42 12th - Luke 9:46-48 13th Mark 4:35-41

Week of August 14th Theme: Jesus Death and Resurrection Weekly Renewal Practice: Spend some time journaling this week and reflect on the many blessings that have occurred. 14th - Mark 14:32-36 15th - Mark 15:33-39 16th - 17th - 18th - 19th - John 20:11-18 20th - John 20:19-23

Week of August 21st Theme: The Church: Acts (This book tells us about the early Christian church immediately after Jesus death and resurrection) Weekly Renewal Practice: Enjoy God s world by visiting a zoo, museum, park, going mini-golfing, or doing something else unique. 21st - Acts 2:42-47 22nd - Acts 2:1-6 23rd - Acts 9:1-6 24th - Acts 16:13-15 25th - Acts 5:12-16 26th - Acts 28:28-31 27th - Acts 16:29-34

Week of August 28th Theme: New Life and Spiritual Growth Weekly Renewal Practice: Go to bed early or sleep in sometime this week in order to refresh and renew your body. 28th - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 29th - 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 30th - 1Corinthians 13:4-7 31st - Philippians 4:4-7 1st - Colossians 3:1-4 2nd - Colossians 3:12-14 3rd - Colossians 3:15-17