MONTHLY ARCHIVES: December 2014

Construction Update

Posted on December 19, 2014 by katieknowles

Big things are happening! Footers are being laid up on the Ridge for future Cherokee and Choctaw cabins.

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Future Cherokee hill. Look at that view!

The pool area is cleared and we are SO excited for the design and for all the fun we will have there this summer. IMG_2273

The Dining Hall has also made some big progress as well. The foundation and floor have been laid for the new part of the Dining Hall. The walls for the bottom level are beginning to go up as well. IMG_2279


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All to Bring Him Glory

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Karah

DSC_1767Pause

You will be living in Genesis 1 and 2 this week. Skim over it this morning, asking God to open your eyes to what He has to teach you.

“Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.” —Genesis 1:24-25

Writers create a setting in which to tell the story. It provides the backdrop for the story, but also sets the mood. Read Genesis 1:1-25 in your Bible. What does this passage tell you about the setting God created for His story?

Dig deeper by thinking through these questions:

Think about what you learned yesterday. How do these verses further acknowledge God as the main character of Scripture? Explain.

Note all the times God said that His creation was good in these verses. What does that help you to understand about the world God had created? Why?

God had created a perfect world where all things proclaimed His glory and worked according to His intention. While the world we live in bears the scars of sin, how do you see glimpses of that perfect world’s beauty and harmony today?

The Point

God created a perfect setting in which His story would unfold, one where His creation could experience the joy of His presence and glorify Him.

Respond

Creation was meant to bring glory to the Creator. Think about the glimpses of beauty and harmony you see in the world today that you just listed. Praise God for the ways you see even creation giving glory to Him. Sketch or record your prayer in your journal.

For Further Study:

Read Psalms 19 and 148; Isaiah 55:12; and Romans 1:20.

Behind the Story

In the pagan cultures that surrounded God’s people, the moon and sun were worshiped as gods. That may be why the usual Hebrew words for moon and sun are avoided in the Genesis creation account. (See Gen. 1:16.) It is clear from this account that the sun and moon are not deities to be revered or worshiped, but rather made to serve God and humanity.


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Retro Friday

Posted on December 12, 2014 by katieknowles

The Crestridge emblem. We see it on our sweatshirts, the stained glass in the chapel, promotional posters, and all kinds of other IMG_6646places and things. Have you ever really thought about it before? When you think about it, it may seem kind of strange. It’s a circle, with sort of a square shape, and it has an arrow and a horseshoe. Does it actually mean something?

As a matter of fact, it does! The horseshoe stands for the sincere best wishes that we have as the camper comes to camp to find her piercing purpose (arrow) in life. As she does this, we believe that completion (circle) comes in growth in spiritual, mental, physical, and social areas of life (four points). It’s so cool to think that, from the beginning of camp, so much thought was being put into even the seemingly small details.


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The Main Character

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Karah

DSC_3386Pause

Consider this quote:

“There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves His children and comes to rescue them.” —Sally Lloyd-Jones in The Jesus Storybook Bible

Think about your favorite book or movie. A writer often uses the first scene or line to give you insight into the main character. What does the first scene tell you about the main character? How? Journal your thoughts below.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” —Genesis 1:1

With that idea in mind, read Genesis 1:1 and Psalm 92 in your Bible.

Look at Genesis 1:1. A story begins with its author, creation with its Creator. How does this verse help to establish God as the main character of His story?

Examine Genesis 1:1 and Psalm 92:14-15. What do these verses tell you about the purpose of the creation account? Is it more about glorifying God or being in awe of what He has made? Explain.

The Point

The story of creation begins—and ends—in our eternal God. It is more about Him than us.

Respond

The Bible doesn’t start with this story so we can be in awe of what God has made; it’s there so we can be in awe of God. Take some time to do that today. Focus your mind on God—not what He has done for you or what He has made—but on Him and who He is. Record your praises as a prayer below.

For further study of God’s eternal nature, read John 1:1, Ephesians 1:4, and Colossians 1:15-17.

Behind the Story

God is the grammatical subject of the first sentence in the Bible—and He continues to be the thematic subject throughout the entire creation account (Gen. 1–2). The recurring phrase “then God said” in Genesis 1:1–2:3 serves to establish Him as the primary actor in creation.


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Construction Update

Posted on December 5, 2014 by katieknowles

We are getting so excited as we are seeing the progress being made here at camp. The floor is being redone in the Chapel, and walls are starting to go up on the Dining Hall.IMG_2259

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Location of the pool.

Big things are happening up on the Ridge as well. For those of you who are confused about where “the Ridge” is, it is located up on the hill (or “ridge”) above the barn, green, waterfront, and gym. The area for the pool has been completely cleared, and it has a gorgeous view. Cabin spaces and the new upper green have been cleared as well. The new green also has a beautiful view.

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View of the upper green from future Choctaw hill.

We’ve had a lot of rain lately, so please be praying for good weather so that progress can move along as quickly and smoothly as possible.


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A Message of Hope

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Karah

DSC_3721Pause

Imagine what the world would look like if everything—including your life—were as it should be. Thank God that He is a God who redeems everything.

We all have a death sentence. Respond to that statement.

Not to be morbid, but that statement is true. Sin has infected our lives and everything in the world. Scripture tells us that creation even groans under the curse of sin. We know that one day all of this will end. Now, read Romans 8:18-25 in your Bible.

“And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.”

—Romans 8:23,25

In your Bible, underline all the references to hope in this passage. As a believer, that word should stand out to you. As a Christian, you have experienced just a taste of the fullness of God’s redemption, but you can live with hope because you know that you will one day experience all the benefits and blessings of salvation when Christ returns and establishes His Kingdom.

Now, read Romans 8:18-25 again, this time from the perspective of someone who is not a Christian. How would that person respond to this passage? Jot down any words or feelings he or she might think or experience.

The news that everything will one day end is terrifying to those who have no hope. As a Christian, you have been redeemed and can live in light of the future hope of eternity spent with God. But many in the world around you do not have that hope.

Respond

  • If you knew the world were ending tomorrow, how would you react? Who would you want to know about the hope of an eternal future with God? Write the first few names that come to mind.

 

  • List some ways you will share the hope you have in Christ with those people this week. Jot down two of those actions points below.

 

  • Pray for a heart that is tender toward the hopeless, so that God can use you to reach those who still walk in darkness.

Behind the Story

Firstfruits is a word that’s often used in Scripture. Generally used to describe the first part of the harvest, which was offered to God as a sacrifice, the word is used to denote a gift of God to His children in Romans 8:23. Christians have the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives as a foretaste of our full inheritance.

The Point

Because we know the future we have with God, we can live with hope in a hopeless world.


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