What's up with Twigg!
It is that time of the year when a lot of different things start happening. The retreat season picks up to a faster pace and more classes start for the apprentices. A lot just starts happening. We all look forward to spending time with our families for the holidays, eating lots of food, and traveling (well maybe not the driving, but going places).
What is going on?
Here at the Ranch, we are experiencing some down time up until the first of the year in relation to retreats. I am planning my vacation time to go and visit family and friends. So I do appreciate the down time that God has given. At this time of the year I do find that I miss my family more. It seems as though this time of the year brings about more childhood memories for me. I had the privilege of staffing morning exercises and devotions for the first month of the apprentice program. Waking up at
This past summer was great. We had numerous kids make professions of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and many others renew commitment. Campfires were the highlight of the summer. Each week the kids get to share what God has been doing in their lives the past week that they were there. It was so exciting to see young person after young person stand up and share. God has been at work and I look forward to what he is going to do. I would encourage you to check out the “Thank You” video that our staff have put up for supporters to see at www.vimeo.com/6997146 . The man that is speaking is my boss. I look forward to what God will do this next summer.
Thoughts
It seems as though I cannot get out of the book of Philippians. Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with the book. As a matter of fact I love it and God is using it to transform my thoughts and who I am. It is great to know that God keeps us where we need to be. It is exciting to wonder what God is going to be teaching. Out of the book of Philippians I have been struck by how much Paul is focused on everything, but himself. His primary focus is on God’s will and the spread of the Gospel. Then and which also stems from his focus on God, he thinks of others. This puts to shame the times, which are many that I focus on myself and my rights in given situations. I battle over the right to be able to watch a movie justifying that it is not wrong, or over playing a video game. Though this may be true, I realized that I was placing my battle at what is right and wrong over seeking to please God above all else. I had my rights in mind not God. God desires for us to glorify Him and when I think of myself, I cannot. So God asking for my rights is not an easy choice to make, but I believe a necessary one. I think of Phil. 1:21- “For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain.” Christ is the way for us to truly live.