Cooperation7/24/2019 Scripture
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9 (American Standard Version) Thought for the Day Every baseball, basketball, or football team depends on cooperation: “I’ll pass the ball to you, and you put it through the hoop.” Teamwork, troop spirit—call it what you like—a sense of cooperation almost always ensures that a task placed on you will be accomplished. How true the adage: “It’s surprising how much you can get done if you don’t care who gets the credit.” God wants us to learn to cooperate. Cooperation is basic to the way Scouts think. God made it almost impossible for us to accomplish certain things without help. Sometimes we have the tendency to balk at the need to share a burden with someone else, but eventually we learn to do our very best work with a trusted and cooperative partner. We can learn a great deal about cooperation from living at the jamboree. In our cooperating with others we often have the opportunity to see God revealed. Questions for Discussion
Devotion Prayer Breakfast Prayer Lunch Prayer Dinner Prayer Evening Prayer |
Building Friendships is a Mountain to Experience
7/23/2019
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
~ Micah 6:8 (New International Version)
Thought for the Day
This jamboree brings together people from all over your nation and around the world. Each person attending the jamboree has the opportunity to learn from and share with people you might never have imagined you would meet. Everyone comes with his or her own stories, background, and beliefs. This diversity adds tremendous richness to the entire Scouting experience. When we share our backgrounds and our uniqueness with those we meet, we begin to learn that we are not really all that different from one another. We all experience similar feelings of happiness and sadness, fulfillment and disappointment, confidence and insecurity. When we realize that people are basically the same, we find it easier to treat each other with respect, kindness, and love. By treating people in this way, we imitate God’s actions toward us.
Sometimes, however, people become somewhat shy and fearful of making new friends. Do you find yourself trying to cling to familiar surroundings or spending your time with only the people you know? Might there be someone in your patrol, troop, or crew who is really shy and needs some help in meeting new friends? Help that person. God wants us to learn about each other, to understand each other, and to come together in friendship.
Ask God to help you overcome any fear or shyness you might feel. Do your best to open yourself to new experiences. Trust that all you do in developing these bonds of friendship will help to build a world of justice, love, and understanding. Believe that God is present with you and will help you in this work.
Questions for Discussion
- Sharing your talents with others allows God to work in your life and in the lives of those around you. What are some of the gifts that you as a Scout bring to this jamboree? Have you tried to share these gifts with others?
- Have you tried to learn about others’ customs and cultures?
- Have you made many new friends?
Devotion Prayer
O God, help me work for peace, justice, and love in our world by uniting myself with others in friendship. Amen.
Breakfast Prayer
Dear God, help us all to use this day well. We thank You for this food which gives us energy to work in building a world of understanding among all peoples. Amen.
Lunch Prayer
For this food we share and for all the friendships we build, we thank You, O Lord. Amen.
Dinner Prayer
Bless this food, O Lord, and bless the friendships we have made. Amen.
Evening Prayer
Thank You, God, for this day. Grant us a peaceful and restful night that we may awaken refreshed and eager to work again in building a world of justice, love, and understanding. Amen.