After our second day at the castle seeking the Lord with our teen group we engaged in another full day of Worship, Bible Study, and games. Through out the day we were reminded via study that “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.” Psalm 119:1 Reminded of how the way of blessing and the way of cleansing go hand in hand. In between studies, we had launched our annual Olympic-style games consisting of much gut wrenching laughter as the students give a tremendous effort and make themselves vulnerable in accomplishing great feats consisting of team relays, food sports, and human bobsledding. Amazing what fun a roll of plastic, dish soap, a garden hose, and willing bodies can have as the hurl themselves down the grassy slope. There have already been some many wonderful spiritual highlights. It is truly incredible to see our teens standing with outstretched arms worshipping our Lord. This year, like years in the past, we have a time of student led devotions, where we split into girl/guy groups. I was moved to tears to hear about the devotion that was shared by one of our young ladies as she handled the Word with intimacy and had explained that four years ago, she had such hard, rebellious heart, desiring nothing to do with the Lord, knowing that she needed to get right with Him, but wanted the things of this world, but now, her testimony is so sweet and her exhortations to follow our Lord are impacting us in a great way.
What a faithful God!

On arrival of our first night at our Summer Teen Castle Retreat, we so blessed by the students and their eagerness to get away for fellowship and we trust and pray to develop intimacy with our Lord Jesus. After giving to Jesus a fantastic hour of Worship, we began to look at Psalm 119. This will be the text that we will be looking at thought the course of the week. It is the longest chapter of the Bible and deservedly so, since it speaks of the awesomeness and beauty of God’s Word. We began our study by looking at the first eight versus which speak of the blessing of seeking our Lord through His Word with an undefiled whole heart. After a bit more worship at the close of our study, students on their feet, standing and singing their heart out to our Lord, we then unveiled our retreat tee shirt. It has our CORE logo, Christ Owned Ready Ensamples on the front, but on the back, reads the phrase, “Give Me Heart Burn.” This is our theme for this week with the verse from Luke 24:32 “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” Please pray that as our teens seek the Lord this week on the mountain, that our hearts would burn for Jesus and His Word as we open the scriptures.