He Is Faithful To Forgive

We all make mistakes. You can’t argue with that; it’s a given. I have to confess, however, that I hate owning up to mine. And since I specialize in making mistakes, I have to keep owning up to them over and over again! Sometimes I think I should just hang a sign around my neck, “Yes, I did it. I’m sorry.” Then I won’t have to speak up anymore!

Maybe you know what I’m talking about.

Read 1 John 1:8-10. Read verse 9 out loud.

According to the passage, how do we deceive ourselves?

What did John mean when he wrote that the truth is not in us?

What does this passage tell you about God’s forgiveness?

Why is it important that you recognize your sin and confess it?

What sins do you need to confess to God today? Seek His forgiveness; He’s willing to give it!

Last week we were reminded that we’re liars. In today’s passage, we’re forced to admit that we make a lot of mistakes. Being honest about ourselves can be difficult. All these confessions get us down and make us feel like failures.

Yet we don’t have to stop there. Defeat isn’t for God’s children. Jesus has overcome, and through Him, forgiveness and fresh starts become ours to claim. The point of these verses is that you are a sinner. If you claimed otherwise, you’d be a liar. But God is a God of forgiveness. And if you sincerely ask for forgiveness, He will forgive you. No doubt about that—He promised, and He always keeps His word. It’s what happens afterward that’s up to you. Changing for the better is the mark of true repentance. It’s one of the best ways you can ever thank Him for all He’s done for you.

Posted in Devotions, Girls | Tagged 1 John 1, Camp Crestridge, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission. | Leave a reply

Belle 2A 2011

During session 2A last summer, five girls were tapped out for the Belle challenge.  Blake Bitle, Avery Rasmussen, Ginny Stevens, and Ansley Thomas achieved the rank of Trekker and Addi Baker achieved the rank of Belle.

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged 2A, Belle, Camp Crestridge, Campers, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Summer 2011 | Leave a reply

Retro Friday: The Pavilion

Can you guess what is missing in this picture?  For many years, the space between the Gym and the Chapel was used for campfire.  That changed in 1999 when the Pavilion made its appearance thanks to CCAF (Camp Crestridge Alumnae and Friends).  We now use the Pavilion for skills, Village Activities, and Campfire when it rains.  The current campfire area is located between the gym and the lake.  The Pavilion was a great addition!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Camp Crestridge Alumnae and Friends, Crestridge Alumnae, Crestridge Pavilion, Pavilion, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply

Don’t Just Talk

Everybody knows this group of people lie all the time—because they generally get caught in their lies. Who are they?

Here’s a clue: their name begins with a “C.” Celebrities? Yes, but that’s not the group I have in mind. Give up? Try Christians. Yup, we’re guilty, too.

Read 1 John 1:5-7. Concentrate on verse 6.

What was John’s main point in this passage?

What does it mean to walk in the light?

How are you walking in the light? Explain.

Based on John’s description of liars, would you consider yourself one? Explain.

What does walking in darkness look like? Give examples.

In what ways have you lied to yourself and to God?

John wrote that if what we do doesn’t reflect what we say, then we’re liars. If we say we love Christ and obey Him, but our lives say otherwise, we’re lying. Hits close to home, doesn’t it?

See, it’s through your actions that you prove you are God’s child. When your words match what you do, when what you say you believe affects how you live—people have less reason to doubt you and more reason to give God a chance.

It’s tough but true: because we bear His name, everything we do reflects on Him. So if you truly love God, your life will reflect Him. And people will listen when you talk about your faith because they see it in action in your life.

Posted in Devotions, Girls | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Galatians 4, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission. | Leave a reply

Retro Friday: Camper Day

If you came to camp after 1998, you missed out on an activity called “Camper Day”.  Camper Day was a day during the session when the majority of the staff took off and the campers were in charge.  Campers became counselors, skill directors, and even the Summer Director!  Each cabin would vote on who they wanted as their counselor.  The staff would elect campers to take the Director positions.  Now I don’t want you to think that there was no supervision in camp.  There were some staff who stayed like Johnnie or Marva, the Horseback, Waterfront and the Crafts Directors.  If I were a camper on that day, it sounds like it would be pretty fun!  But I’m not sure that it was as fun for the Directors who stayed in camp.  Camper Day was an activity from 1955-1998.  If any of you have Camper Day stories, we’d love to hear them!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Camper Day, Retro Friday, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply

You Have Been Set Free

Don’t you just love stories about underdogs who fight their way to freedom and end up inspiring others at the same time? It doesn’t matter if it’s real or made up. Such stories never fail to make us smile. And for a little while, life just feels good.

Could it be because it reminds us of our own stories of freedom in Christ? Even though we’re not the heroes of our stories, we win because sin has lost its power over us. We no longer worry about having to be good enough for God.

Read Galatians 4:8-11. Go back and read verse 9 again.

Think about yourself before you knew God. What were you like?

How does knowing God give you freedom?

What could make someone who has been set free go back to his old way of life?

In what areas of your life do you feel the pull to return to old ways of living? Why?

Why was Paul upset about the Galatian Christians observing special times? How could this be a problem?

As a Christian, what are some rules you think you should follow? Why?

Are these rules Scriptural?

The Christian life isn’t supposed to be like writing a paper with a strict rubric to follow. You don’t have to live up to a prescribed set of rules in order to please the Father. Through His grace and in faith, you are given the freedom to grow and be like His Son, Jesus. Paul was writing to people who had accepted Christ, yet had gone back to keeping all the rules and observances of their old religious practice. They had experienced the freedom of Christ through grace and faith and were now making their relationship with Him all about living up to rules. God doesn’t want that from us! Now isn’t that a big relief? Get rid of those rules you cling to and start following Him! He’s set you free. So go and be free!

Posted in Devotions, Girls | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Galatians 4, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission. | Leave a reply

Meet the 2012 Crestridge Interns

We are excited to announce that Sarah and Caroline Knowles started as the Crestridge Interns today!  They could not wait to get started!  Sarah and Caroline came to camp as Chippewas in 1998.  In 2007, they came on staff as JETs.  Sarah was the Choctaw Village Director in 2009 and 2010.  Caroline was the Cherokee Village Director in 2009 and 2010.  Both Sarah and Caroline went to the University of Florida for their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in Education.  They spent this past semester in Colorado Springs at the Focus Leadership Institute.  They enjoyed waking up to the view of Pikes Peak every morning.  Sarah and Caroline are excited to be apart of Crestridge both in the off-season and during camp this summer!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Caroline Knowles, Colorado, Crafts, Crestridge, interns, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Sarah Knowles, UF, Waterfront | Leave a reply

God Loves You

Read Galatians 4:1-7.

Slavery—it isn’t something we willingly think about. Yet every day, we can’t help but hear stories of those who are caught in this evil.

In the newspaper, on the Internet, or from our friends, we hear of children forced to work in mills and factories and of young girls caught in human trafficking. We see consumer campaigns urging us to stop buying clothing made in sweatshops all over the world. We’re aware of how ugly slavery is, and the plight of slaves touches our hearts. But most times we don’t like to dwell on their daily lives. It’s too tragic and overwhelming.

In today’s passage, however, we are reminded that spiritually, we too were once in the same desperate condition. Sin held us in its unyielding grip. There was no escape. And even though we thought we were in charge, truth was, we never had any power over anything. Satan held our past, our present, and our future in his cruel hands.

Enter Jesus. Suddenly, there is hope and a way of escape. Suddenly, we have a choice and a future. And God, the Almighty One, becomes our Father. How things have changed! Instead of being nobodies, we’ve been welcomed into an eternal family, loved and accepted by the Father. God doesn’t hold you at arm’s length. If you are a believer, you are a dearly loved child of the Creator Himself.

Don’t let the wonder of that kind of love escape you today. When things get stressful, remember whose you are. Rest in the love of a Father who will never leave you. You are loved!

Posted in Devotions, Girls | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Galatians 4, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission. | Leave a reply

It’s Christmas Time!

I’m sure you all are excited to have time off from school and work for the next few days!  We hope that you will find time to rest and to reflect on the year and what God has done!  If you haven’t noticed, we really enjoy making videos for you.  We hope you enjoy watching them as much as we enjoy making them!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Camp Ridgecrest, Christmas, Christmas Video, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply

Our Gingerbread House

Ridgecrest Summer Camps recently entered a Gingerbread House Contest that was held at the Ridgecrest Christmas Party (Conference Center and Camp staff).  We also had to submit a video with our Gingerbread House.  We didn’t win first place, but we did win “Most Creative”!  You all should be proud!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Camp Ridgecrest, Christmas Party, Gingerbread House, Most Creative, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply