“First Aid for the Wounded Soul”

May 14th-16th

This was one of the most anticipated retreats of the year! We spent Saturday hiking, bouldering, and exploring God’s creation. At night we worshiped and slept under the stars on the dry lake bed. Sunday, we woke up to a beautiful morning and started the day with studying God’s healing word. Later in the day took some offroad trails and¬† learned how to rappel and rock climb.

If you missed this retreat and would like to study “First aid for the wounded soul” Click the read more button to read our journals.

Friday Night May 14th, 2010
Sin, Rebellion, Trespasses, & Separation
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2 NIV)

Any good first aid manual starts with ABC (Airway, Breathing, and Circulation) Рcall for help! Does the injured person have an open airway? Put the head back, sweep the throat with your finger. Are they breathing? Place your ear close to their mouth and nose listen and feel for air movement. Is the person’s heart working? Check the pulse at major arteries. If any of the ABCs are not functioning correctly the person will die without help. In order to effectively help someone you must assess their needs. If a person is choking it does them no good if you administer CPR.

In a similar way sometimes we are in desperate need of first aid for the soul and we need to assess the situation. Apathetic (no interest or enthusiasm) about God? Don’t want to worship? Compromising more and more lately? Don’t read your Bible or pray much anymore? Don’t care about sin? Feeling distant and that God is far off? More than likely the victim is suffering from sin and has separated them self from God. this can be a wide range of causes in which we will explore.

When we talk about the subject of sin and separation it often leaves us with the feeling of how worthless and inadequate we are. Although it is true that sin reveals our inadequacy and unholiness it also makes a stark contrast to the value that God puts on us! Think for a moment about a holy God that is in need of nothing. This God merely speaks and objects and persons come into being. This God does not need to tolerate us in our sinful state. He is not lonely that he is willing to put up with us to have a friend. There is nothing that makes Him dependent upon us. Yet, He endures with us in our sin. He provides salvation and reconciles us to Himself. He reveals His eternal nature and unending love to us. God sustains all creation and every breath we take. Paul said it this way in Acts 17:28,“For in him we live and move and have our being.” Compared to God’s greatness we should feel small. Compared to God’s holiness we should fear Him. We should marvel and be in awe of His love for us.

The Bible has some very descriptive words to help us understand sin.  One term used is “to miss the mark”, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.  Sin is not being good enough.  Another term is “trespass” which means to act treacherously, to fall, to stumble, or to offend.  There is also the word “iniquity” which means morally wrong or unrighteous.  Of course the words “evil” and “wickedness” are also used which mean bad, harmful, wrong, and ungodly.  There are more terms used to describe sin but I think I’ve got you on the right track to defining sin.

Take some time now and read through the scriptures to understand the subject more fully.  Before you start pray and ask God to reveal His truths to you.

Let‚Äôs first define sin…

1. Read Romans 14:23, John 3:18, and Hebrews 11:6.  How do these passages define sin?

2. Read 1 Samuel 15:23, Proverbs 17:11a, and Nehemiah 9:17.  How do these passages define sin?

3. Read 1 John 3:4, James 2:8-11, and Psalm 19:7-14 (transgression means to actively break the terms of God’s moral law).  How do these passages define sin?

4. Read 1 Timothy 3:6, Ezekiel 28:17 (speaking of Satan), and 1 John 2:16.  How do these passages define sin?

5. Do you thinks it’s fair that God decides what is right and what is wrong?  Why?

6. Read Psalm 139:23-24.  Take a moment and pray this prayer and then be silent.  Write down the sin in your life that God is revealing to you.  This will remain confidential.

Pray and ask God to forgive you and prepare you to hear from Him this weekend.

First Aid for the Wounded Soul Step 1:

Repent and confess your sin to the Lord. Seek forgiveness.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

(James 4:7–10 NIV)

Saturday Morning, May 15th 2010
My cry for HELP!

“O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.”

(Psalms 88:1–2 NIV)

One of the worst accidents I have ever been a part of in youth ministry happened on a snow day. I remember it took place right before we were ready to leave.Two kids decided to climb up a hill

One of the worst accidents I have ever been a part of in youth ministry happened on a snow day. I remember it took place right before we were ready to leave.Two kids decided to climb up a hill  away from the sled run.  They rode down the tube together and that’s when I heard it. Cries for help mixed with agony and weeping. I was at the car at the time packing up so I immediately ran to see what had happened.  Cody was laying on the ground crying in pain and holding his leg.  Nathan was sitting dazed holding his face, nose bleeding. I quickly took off my sock and packed it full of snow for Nathan to put on his face which was starting to swell up. I turned my attention to Cody.  Many times people who break their upper leg in a manner like this can also sever their artery causing internal bleeding. I had him lay out and began to try to asses whether the leg or hip was broken. Meanwhile Nathan starts having trouble staying awake. He keeps telling me how tired he is. This is serious!  He has a major concussion (brain swelling). I had to keep him awake. “Stay awake Nathan! Don’t sleep! Hang in their buddy!”, I kept talking to him. We race Cody and Nathan to my truck and take them to a fire station up the hill.  Cody’s leg is not broken most likely deep bruising and he can wait until he gets home to get x-rays. Nathan on the other hand needs to be airlifted off the mountain to a hospital in Pasadena. He had a major concussion, a broken nose, and broken cheek bones. He had to stay in the hospital for two days.

When it happened to them their was only one thing that was going to work.  Crying out for help. If they would have told us they didn’t need help Nathan would have died. The same is true for our soul. There is only one who can help. The psalmist says this, “I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalms 121:1–2 NIV). When we find ourselves in sin, in hurt, or in need call upon the one who depends upon no one. Before you get started with reading the scriptures take time and pray to God.  Ask the Lord to reveal himself to you and give you understanding.

Before you get started with reading the scriptures take time and pray to God.  Ask the Lord to reveal himself to you and give you understanding.

1. Read Psalm 121:1-8. What does this psalm say about the faithfulness of God?
2. What do you think the Psalmist means when he says, ‚ÄúThe Lord will keep you from all harm- He will watch over your life…‚Äù?
3. Read Psalm 55:16-18. When does David cry out to the the Lord?
4. What do you think the psalmist means by, “He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me?
5. Read Matthew 14:28-31. Why do you think Peter began to sink?
6. What did Peter do when he thought he was going to drown?
7. Why do you think Jesus said, “You of little faith” to Peter?First Aid for the Wounded Soul Step 2: Cry out to God for help. Seek Him and be satisfied.

Saturday Night, May 15th 2010
Restoration

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,”

(Isaiah 61:1 NIV)

My mother had been telling me since my grand mother passed away that she had a special gift to give to me. On Wednesday morning I arrived at my mom’s house to drop off Claire before going to work and she asked me if I had a few minutes to spare. She came out with a very old book. The book was originally purchased by my great grand mother in 1901and handed down to my grand father and then to my mother. My mom said she wanted me to have it since I also admired Abraham Lincoln.  The book was “Abe Lincoln’s Yarns and Stories” by Colonel Alexander Mclure. My mom showed me how the book had been signed by the author in 1901. The book binding and inside pages were falling apart from age and use. My mother wasn’t sure if the book had any value or not but told me to care for it and it was mine to remember my grandparents’ generation.

Being a fan of history and Abraham Lincoln I have been enjoying the stories of our 16th President’s life, faith in God, and fun anecdotes. I could not help but wonder if there was some value to this antique book. So I took it to the Bookman to have it appraised and to get a quote on repairing and rebinding this old book. The Bookman told me that the books real value was what I placed on it as an heirloom. The cost for repairing the binding would be well over a $100 and he can find a copy of the book online for $45. You see the author was no one famous so the book has no great value.

Although “Abe Lincoln’s Yarns and Stories” has lost it’s value I will treasure the book as long as it is in my possession. Thinking about it I sure am glad that God doesn’t treat humans like this old book. I am overjoyed that God not only provides salvation but restores us as well. When we are broken or torn apart He does not discard us because we have lost value.  No, God heals and restores us giving us a greater value than before.

Before you get started with reading the scriptures take time and pray to God.  Ask the Lord to reveal himself to you and give you understanding.

Read Luke 5:1-11

1.What were the disciples response to Jesus?

2.Write down Luke 5:11.

3.Read Matthew 26:30-35 If you were Peter how would you feel?

4. Read Matthew 26:69-75 How would you feel if you were Peter?

5.Why do you think Peter was weeping? Do you think Peter failed? Do you think he sinned?

6.Read John 21:2-3 Why do you think Peter went back to fishing?

7. Read John 21:4-17 What is similar in this passage to Luke 5:1-11?

8.Why do you think Jesus asked Peter the same question three times?

First Aid for the Wounded Soul Step 3: Let God restore you.

Recognize that He faithful to forgives us.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NIV)

Sunday Morning, May 16th 2010
“I AM” РOur God is an awesome of God”

“Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”” (Exodus 3:13–14 NAS95)

In the story of the Exodus while Israel was wandering in the desert Moses went up the mountain to meet the Lord. It was the second time God was going to give His law to Moses. If you remember the first time Moses came down the mountain, Israel had fallen into idolatry and all kinds of evil.  Moses was so angered when he saw the people worshiping the golden calf he threw the tablets to the ground breaking them. This second time God told Moses to chisel out tablets himself and bring them up the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights with the Lord. The Bible tells us when he came down the people of Israel could not look upon his face. Exodus 34:29–30  says,“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.” Moses was reflecting the glory of a holy God. Paul shares something similar in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” The unique thing about this passage is Paul is not talking about Moses but followers of Jesus. We who worship God in spirit are transformed and reflect God to this world.

Worship should transform us. In fact that is exactly what we learn about Moses on the mountain. When Moses first arrived at the top of the mountain we read, “Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.” Exodus 34:8. We are not just talking about singing of songs. Music is only one form of a expressing a grateful and loving heart toward God. Worship encompasses the whole life of a believer. It is the way we live in holiness. The way we serve. The way we labor in our school and jobs. The way we care for the needy and lost. Worship is how we think about God.

I continue to marvel at the response, ‚ÄúI Am‚Äù that God gives to Moses. There is no other name that can begin to capture God. There is no other name that would cause man to wonder more about the nature of God than ‚ÄúI AM‚Äù. It sums up all of His attributes. Think about it…

Read these scriptures and think about who God is.