Let Him Lead

Read Proverbs 16:1-4.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Things aren’t always as they seem?” Sometimes, the things we think are certain may only be a wish—or even worse, a scam. If only we could pull the curtain back and see things as they really are, we could avoid so much sin, confusion, and heartache.

Often, the problem may be our own pride or selfish motives. All too often, we fail to consider God’s will when we make our plans. We may think we have everything planned out, but only God knows the outcome.

Proverbs 16:1-4 is a reminder that we don’t ultimately determine our futures. Our plans don’t necessarily succeed; God’s plans, on the other hand, are sure to succeed. Even terrible circumstances cannot ultimately disrupt God’s purposes for His people, since He gives believers the strength to endure all situations.

It’s easy to come up with our own plans, then take them to God and ask for His blessing. But that isn’t what He’s asked us to do. Instead, as today’s passage says, He invites us to surrender our plans to Him and line them up with His purposes. When we give our plans to God and pursue His purposes, those plans will be achieved because He’s the One who is doing the leading.

Surrendering your plans to God isn’t easy. It doesn’t always feel good. But regardless of what you think or feel, will you trust God with your present and your future? Your Heavenly Father is worthy of trust, and His promises are sure. Don’t foolishly and arrogantly ignore God and live as if you are in control of your life. Depend on God—He’s the path to true freedom and joy.

Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be achieved. —Proverbs 16:3

Posted in Devotions | Tagged Adapted from ec magazine. © 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources, Camp Ridgecrest, proverbs 16, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

Sockwar: Pirates vs. Ninjas

I wish all of you could be here to see all the Sockwar Intros! But since that will never happen, we’ll continue to capture them on video for your enjoyment. When I watch this, the word “Epic” comes to mind…

Sockwar: Pirates vs Ninjas from Ridgecrest Summer Camps on Vimeo.

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Praise!

What do you spend most of your time thinking about? As you sit in class at school, where do your thoughts go? Is it the game that’s coming up? Are you dreaming of next summer at Camp? The boy/girl you’re trying to get to notice you? The car you want? Whatever consumes your thoughts also consumes your heart.

Read Psalm 95:1-8. Chew on verse 6.

What reasons to praise the Lord does the psalmist give us in verses 3-5?

The psalmist speaks about the “depths of the earth . . . the mountain peaks . . . the sea . . . the dry land.” What does this signify?

What does bowing down to worship the Lord symbolize?

Have you ever hardened your heart to the things of God? Why? When? What happened?

What things of God is your heart hardened toward right now? Why?

This passage describes worshiping God in a variety of ways for many reasons. What are some reasons you can praise God today?

What steps will you take to praise and worship Him right now?

Today’s passage of Scripture is a call to worship. The psalmist reminds his readers that God is the Creator of all things, from the deepest valleys and seas to the highest mountains. The psalmist calls us to recognize God for who He is, the great God above all others who deserves all of our praise.

But God also wants our hearts to be obedient to Him. He wants us to have submissive attitudes and hearts completely surrendered to His will for our lives. Praise Him today. Ask Him to help you completely surrender your heart and your mind as you give Him all that you are out of your love and devotion for your King.

Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. —Psalm 95:6

Posted in Devotions | Tagged Adapted from ec magazine. © 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources, Camp Ridgecrest, Psalm 95, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

Some Give All

He ran. Day after day, he ran. Before school. After school. On weekends. Everywhere he went people would say to him: “Is that all you do? Run?” He was used to the teasing. He was used to being asked why he ran all the time. But in his heart, he didn’t care. He remembered bitterly the pain of last year’s defeat. He’d lost the gold medal in the state cross country meet by just a few seconds, which kept him from his dream of standing on the highest place on the podium. So he ran. He would give it all he had.

Read 2 Samuel 6:12-15 and check out what David was doing in verse 14.

Why did God bless the house of Obed-Edom?

What did this signify to David?

When David went down and brought up the ark of God from Obed-Edom’s house, how did he and his men remove it this time?

After six steps, what did David do?

Verse 14 says David danced with all his might before the Lord. Why did David dance?

What have you given all your might to in the past?

Have you ever worshiped God with everything in you? If not, what is holding you back?

David knew God’s grace and forgiveness. He also knew His holiness. A right relationship with God helps us to recognize who God is, and only when we know that truth can we truly worship Him. He is the Maker of all things. He is the Lover of our souls. He is forgiveness, mercy, and love. He is holy. He deserves our worship and praise. With everything in us, we should worship God.

David was dancing with all his might before the Lord wearing a linen ephod. —2 Samuel 6:14

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged 2 Samuel 6, Adapted from ec magazine. © 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources, Camp Ridgecrest, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

3 Best Things About a Work Weekend

This past weekend was incredible here at Camp Ridgecrest. We had a strong showing of current campers and staff as well as alumni, parents, and friends of Camp Ridgecrest. Looking back, here are the three best things about this past weekend.

1) Peak Weekend – People travel from all across the southeast to see the leaves here in Black Mountain this time of year. The leaves were beautiful, and still are.

2) The People – Seeing about 30 of your camp friends is always a plus. With all star staffers from the 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s, it was a blast to hang out and share stories of this great place. We even got to celebrate the 15th birthday of one of our Choctaw Campers who of course ended up in the Lake!

3) The Projects – We completed a ton of projects this weekend! We added some landscaping behind Rogers Retreat. We added a Ladder Ball (Redneck Golf) course on the side of the Infirmary. We added some trees and split-rail fencing down by the Tennis Courts. We over-seeded the grass on the middle green. We started rebuilding the ramp onto the Spilman Porch. And we ran some wire to add a lantern at the steps to the “Swol Shack” from the lake road. Lots of improvements that will make camp even more amazing this summer!

Thanks to the crew of about 30 that came out to help! Sometimes it feels more like a reunion, but that’s the way it should be. Check out all the pics below….

Posted in News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, construction, Reunion, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, work weekend | Leave a reply

Enthusiasm ≠ Obedience

Earlier this year, American missionaries tried to take Haitian children out of Haiti and into the Dominican Republic where they were setting up an orphanage. The problem? The missionaries didn’t have the required documents to take the children from the country. No matter how good their intentions, they weren’t properly obeying the laws in Haiti, and it cost them greatly.

Read 2 Samuel 6:6-11. See what happened in verses 6 and 7.

Why did Uzzah reach out and grab the ark?

What happened to Uzzah when he reached out and took hold of the ark of God?

Why does the Bible say the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah?

What does it mean to be irreverent?

What did Uzzah’s disobedience cost him?

Think back to a time in your life when you were disobedient to God. What did it cost you?

The fact is, David didn’t properly follow the instructions found in Exodus about how to move the ark of the covenant. Instead, he followed the Philistine’s example and moved the ark on a cart. David’s reason for moving the ark was understandable; he simply wanted to bring the ark, a revered, holy object, to Jerusalem. He wanted to honor God and the ark by putting it in a place of prominence. But God had very specifically laid out how the ark was to be moved, and David didn’t follow God’s directions. Because of this, a man lost his life.

God is serious about His holiness. He calls us to respect that holiness and to live a certain way because of it. David was enthusiastic about moving the ark and wanted it to be in a place of importance and prominence, but he wasn’t obedient. We can do the same thing when we’re enthusiastic in our worship of God, but we don’t obey Him. Enthusiasm is never a substitute for obedience.

When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled. Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God. —2 Samuel 6:6-7

Posted in Devotions | Tagged 2 Samuel 6, Adapted from ec magazine. © 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources, Camp Ridgecrest, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

Handle w/ Care

When I was in fifth grade, my teacher taught us how to fold the American flag. He was a retired, decorated Marine and had spent time in Vietnam. He loved his country, and he treasured the flag, the symbol of freedom for the United States. He took great pride in teaching us how to keep the flag off the ground, how to fold it perfectly, and how to put it in a case. It wasn’t just any old cloth to him; he would have given his life for it.

Read Numbers 4:4-6,15, concentrating on verse 15b.

What was “the work” of the Kohathites”?

What were they to care for?

What were the curtains and skins of manatees to be used for?

What would happen to the Kohathites if they touched the holy things?

What do these verses teach you about the value God placed on the ark?

What do these verses teach you about the character of God?

God placed high value on the ark of the covenant. Certain people had been instructed by God to handle the ark in a very specific way. God didn’t just tell them to pack it up and go. He was very specific in His instructions. God doesn’t do things haphazardly. He always has an order and a purpose. His ways work to bring honor to Himself and to teach us to value and respect the things of God. The question is, do you?

The Kohathites will come and carry them, but they are not to touch the holy objects or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the tent of meeting.

—Numbers 4:15b

Posted in Devotions | Tagged Adapted from ec magazine. © 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources, Camp Crestridge, Camp Ridgecrest, Numbers 4:4-6; 15, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

Lower Tribe Cabin Construction Continues!

This week, the Apache cabins are getting new roofs. The new roofs will cover the porch  and increase the ceiling height inside the cabin, giving the cabins a barn-like atmosphere. This will make the cabins feel bigger and more open, while maintaining the classic Ridgecrest Cabin feel. The work crew continues to blaze ahead at an impressive speed and hope to have all of the Apache roofs, as well as the one on the SALT cabin, by the end of the week. After that is done, the the new porches will be added. These porches will provide a much needed covered space for individual cabins on rainy days. More pictures and updates coming soon. If you haven’t subscribed to these posts yet, do that now…click the link at the bottom right of the page.

Posted in News | Tagged Cabin Restoration, Camp Ridgecrest, construction, New Cabins, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply

When you know God, you really worship

It used to be rusty. Very rusty, with torn seats and cracked windows. (Almost like an old Camp truck.) But even then, it looked like a million bucks to him. As he stared at the 1967 pickup truck, he remembered back to his childhood when he spent hours riding in it with his grandpa. Those images brought a tear to his eye. He’d spent 10 years restoring that truck to what it looked like the day his grandpa drove it off the car lot, and now, he was proudly driving it to his first car show.

Focus on verse 2 as you read 2 Samuel 6:1-5.

How many men did David gather together out of Israel?

What was the task David gave his men?

What was the name of the ark?

What was the great significance of the ark?

On what did they place the ark?

What does verse 5 say David and his men were doing?

Why was the ark of the covenant considered holy?

What did showing respect to the ark have to do with showing respect to God?

How do you show respect and honor to God with your life?

David recognized the great value of the ark of the covenant. It was the earthly throne of Israel’s God. It wasn’t valuable because it was made of exotic wood or priceless gold, but rather because of the Name attached to it. Think about the man with the truck at the beginning of today’s devotion. That truck was valuable to him because he knew the original owner. It wouldn’t have had such value if it were just any old truck. The ark was valuable to David and his men because the Name of God was attached to it. To respect the ark was to respect God. The point? True worship means knowing the One we worship. It only comes from a relationship with our Holy God.

He and all his troops set out to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah. The ark is called by the Name, the name of Yahweh of Hosts who dwells between the cherubim.
—2 Samuel 6:2

Posted in Devotions | Tagged 2 Samuel 6, Adapted from ec magazine. © 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources, Camp Crestridge, Camp Ridgecrest, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

Lower Tribe Cabins get an Upgrade!

Renovations began Monday on the new cabins in Apache and Shawnee. A six man team was able to dismantle three of the buildings down to their walls and studs in one day, finishing cabins one and two before mid-day. The crew spent the next two days finishing Apache circle as well as the SALT cabin and cabins five through eight on Shawnee hill. Once the roofs and rafters have been removed from all the cabins, the remodeling will begin. The project focuses primarily on improving the structural integrity of the cabins as well as over-all appearance. While the cabins will look almost identical from the exterior, the interior will be dramatically improved while keeping our rustic feel. Stay posted because the next few weeks will be incredibly exciting as the cabins are built. (Interested in helping us complete this Cabin Restoration Project? Please follow the “Give” link at the top of the page.)

Posted in News | Tagged Cabin Restoration, Camp Ridgecrest, construction, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply