Down Mountainthe

Start HereSo, you had a great time with friends growing closer to God. God has revealed things

to you and you responded. Now what?

It can be hard going back home after an amazing encounter with God at events suchas the one you just experienced. This devotional is intended to help you go back to theeveryday grind without losing sight of what God has done in your life. This is a simpletool to help you keep the spark alive, and continue on the direction that God has ledyou during this past "mountaintop experience. This is not meant to be a homeworkassignment or just one more thing to add to your busy schedule. This is meantto be an encouraging experience as you spend time letting God speak to you

through this simple book.

Please go through this at your own pace. Do not rush through it. You will get outof this book and experience what you put into it.

There is not a “right way” to go through this book. Do it in a way that works foryou. You can do this during your devotional time, at lunch time, right before yougo to bed, on a hike, or even while you are on the toilet. Whenever or however

works for you.Be creative with your time and your responses.

Blessings!

Derek ParsonThe guy who put this book together

This book has different parts to it.Stories are powerful no matter how simple they may appear.These stories may be from my own life (Derek), a backstoryfor a passage of scripture, or something from history.

These sections are pretty self-explanatory.It will include a passage of scripture to readand reflect on.

These are times for you to just stop and quietly reflect onwhat that section is talking about. Do not rush through theseparts of the book. It is tempting to just move past thesesections. Resist that temptation, and really give the HolySpirit time and space to speak to you.

In these sections you will be given a link for aYouTube clip for you to watch.

StoryScripturePauseWatchPray

ThoughtsJournal

In these sections you spend time in prayer.I know, big surprise.

These sections will have some thoughts about thetopic, scripture, or video to think about.

In these sections you will have a chance to journal aboutyour thoughts or reflections on the topic. You can write,doodle, paste a picture, or whatever to represent yourthoughts or feelings. Be creative!

Here is a rundown of some of those parts:

"Mountaintop Experiences"A Definition:

PauseTake a moment to PAUSE and reflect on the "mountaintop

experience" that you just experienced. Think about the fun you had,the friendships that were made, what God did in your heart, and the

commitments that you made

In our spiritual journeys there are these moments that we call“mountaintop experiences”.

These are the times when we get away from the everyday grind toreconnect with God and just rest in him.

These times are often expressed through events such as retreats andcamps.

These are not just times of great fun, or lack of sleep. They are also animportant change of pace and place that helps us have a change of

perspective.You have been given this journal because you just left a "mountaintop

experience".

PrayTake a moment to PRAY about the "mountaintop experience" and

about your time reflecting through this devotional.

Write or draw some reflections on your experiences at thismountaintop experience.

Journal

SNOWBOARDING FAILWhen I was in college I went on a class ski trip. On this trip we had a choice of whetherwe wanted to learn how to ski or snowboard. I had always wanted to try snowboardingso I chose that as did a few of my friends. Our instructor was 60 years old and stilldoing 180s off the half pipe! This guy was a beast!

I caught on fairly quickly to most of the aspects of snowboarding. There was just onething I that could not do successfully: have my board go horizontally down the slope.This may seem like a minor trait to not conquer, but this is a very important part ofsnowboarding to master. It is important because it is necessary for two importantactions: turning and stopping. If you don’t already know this let me explain: turning andstopping are very important actions to have the ability to do when you are coming downa mountain!

Sadly, I do not have footage of my first experience snowboarding. However, it probablylooking something like this:

Watch this YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnLP8fsR-M4

Needless to say I fell A LOT. It was rather sad. There were 5 year olds zipping by meon their little boards while I couldn’t make it down the slope without falling on my facemultiple times. Also, when you fall on a snowboard it is not like skis that come off whenyou fall. Snowboards are locked on your feet. So when you start to fall down themountain you don’t just fall once. The weight and momentum of the board causes youto flip head over heals multiple times.

Here is a great example of that happening:

Watch this YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6uGKE3JFr8

I learned something that day:

COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN CAN BE HARD!

Watch

Watch

Story

or scan this:

or scan this:

COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAINThere can be temptations that come as we make our way “down the mountain” from out

"mountaintop experiences" back to our everyday lives.These temptations can be seen in 2 passages of Scripture from the Old Testament and

New Testament.These are accounts where the people involved were having a literal and figurative

mountaintop experience.

ScriptureMatthew 17:1-9

1After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, andled them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them.His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then

there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three

shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud

said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesuscame and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up,

they saw no one except Jesus.9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them….

PauseJournal

Take a moment to PAUSE and reflect on this passage of Scripture

Journal some of your initial thoughts on this passage of scripture.Feel free to mark up the passage itself with your thoughts/notes.

ThoughtsAs important as it is to have these mountaintop experiences we must also remember

that we cannot stay here. It can be tempting to react like Peter did during thetransfiguration:

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up threeshelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (Matthew 17:4). You do notneed to build a shelter unless you plan on staying there for a while. Peter wanted to

stay on this mountaintop, but Jesus knew that there was still much work to be done forthe Kingdom of God. You cannot blame Peter for wanting to stay. If you asked anyonein the Jewish community what 3 people they would like to meet during this time almostevery single one would choose: the messiah (Jesus) Moses, and Elijah. And Peter gotto hang out with all 3 of these guys! No wonder he didn’t want go come back down the

mountain.

BUT as great as it was Peter couldn’t stay there on the mountain…there was muchwork to be done down the mountain.

JournalList some of your favorite moments from this past "mountaintop experience".

1)_____________________ 5)_____________________2)_____________________ 6)_____________________3)_____________________ 7)_____________________4)_____________________ 8)_____________________

Pray Spend some time in prayer. Talk with God about the lists above.

Now list ways that God can use you to share His love to others when you get home.1)_____________________ 5)_____________________2)_____________________ 6)_____________________3)_____________________ 7)_____________________4)_____________________ 8)_____________________

ScriptureExodus 24:12-18, 32:1,7-8,15-16,19

12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I willgive you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their

instruction.”13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain ofGod. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and

Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of theLord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on theseventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites theglory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Mosesentered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty

days and forty nights.

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, theygathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for

this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened tohim.”

7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought upout of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what Icommanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. Theyhave bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel,

who brought you up out of Egypt.’

15 Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant lawin his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. 16 The tablets were

the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

PauseJournal

Take a moment to PAUSE and reflect on this passage of Scripture

Journal some of your initial thoughts on this passage of scripture.Feel free to mark up the passage itself with your thoughts/notes.

Now Coming down the mountain can be scary and it can be difficult at times

I remember sitting at the top of that snow covered mountain in New York after a whiletrying to get enough nerve to start the descent down. I would sit there knowing that I

could screw up, that going down the mountain might involve pain, struggle,disappointment.

BUT I also knew that I could not stay on the mountain.

What are some things that you are afraid to go back to as you leave this "mountaintopexperience"?

1)_____________________ 5)_____________________2)_____________________ 6)_____________________3)_____________________ 7)_____________________4)_____________________ 8)_____________________

Pray Spend some time in prayer. Talk with God about this list above.

Journal

Thoughts

KEEPING THE MOMENTUM GOINGJust like Moses and Peter we must come down to the everyday of our lives

But we should come down with a rejuvenated focus and desire to show others the loveof Jesus in a very practical way.

The hardest thing about retreats is the next few days after you get back home to thedaily grind. How do you keep from going back to the status quo?

Here are some helpful tips to help you keep the fire going that was started at this“mountaintop experience”:

Think of 3 people to share with about retreat/camp.Write their names on the pictures.

JournalIt is too easy to forget what happened at retreat

if you don’t talk about it right away.

1) Tell someone (who wasn't at the retreat/camp)immediately when you get home what God did in your life at this

"mountaintop experience".

2) Make specific plans to stick to the direction Godhas led you during this "mountaintop experience".

JournalJournal about your specific "plans" to stick to the direction God is leading you.

3) Have personal quiet time with God daily.

Maybe you need to set a goal for how many times throughout the week youspend having personal quiet time with God in prayer and reading the Bible.Specific goals can be a way to encourage us and to keep us accountable.

Maybe start with a goal of 3 days a week, and then move up to 5 after a month orso. 5 days a week is a good goal to move up to, but you may not want to start

there if this is new to you.

Time of Day:Goal for the Week:

Daily Quiet Time with GodWeek #1

Week #2

Week #3

Week #4

Week #5

4) Have someone who was at this "mountaintop experience"keep you in check once you get home.

JournalThink of three people who were at this

"mountaintop experience" with you who would bea good person to keep you in check once you get

home.Write their names on the pictures.

Talk with them about being an accountabilitypartner.

Accountability Partner's InformationName:

Phone #:

Email:

Other info:

5) Seek encouragement from others in your youth group.

We are not meant to go through life on our own. Christian community is crucial for ourspiritual growth. Christian community encourages us, guides us, corrects us, remindsus who we are living for, and also reminds us that we are not alone. Make it a priorityto be a part of your church's youth group. That may mean saying "NO" to other things

so that you can say "YES" to being a part of Christian community.

PrayPause

Spend some time in prayer.Talk with God about anything on your mind after going through thisdevotional.

Take a moment to PAUSE and reflect

Journal Take a moment to JOURNAL about steps you need to take inorder to make time for Christian community in your own life.

AS YOU COME DOWN THE MOUNTAIN...As you come "down the mountain" and enter back into the routine of your

everyday life:May you not forget the friendships that you made

May you not forget the great experiences and memories that you made

And may you most of of not forget what God did in your life, and thecommitments that you made by...

1) Telling someone (who wasnt at the retreat/camp)immediately when you get home what God did in your life at this "mountaintop

experience".

2) Making specific plans to stick to the direction God has led you during this"mountaintop experience".

3) Having personal quiet time with God daily.

4) Having someone who was at this "mountaintop experience" keep you in check onceyou get home.

5) Seeking encouragement from others in your youth group.