The Gathering

“The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?” Proverbs 18:14

          Navigating all the turmoil in our midst has not only been hard, but left many confused and unsure how to stand or proceed in life. I too have been in the thick of this raging battle and at a loss for words. I have shed tears and been on my knees before our Savior asking for his guidance, seeking his will, and pleading for his strength and Spirit. 

           In the last 5 months we have seen the devastating effects of fear and isolation on both our community and the families we serve at RYR. Fear and isolation have led individuals back into addiction, increased domestic violence and child abuse, and unraveled many years of victorious work in children we mentor. Strong hearts are starting to wane in this spiritual battle and questioning if they should give up. Families are tired of the fight and toll it is taking on them and their children. 

         Christian, this should not be! It grieves me to the core to not only see the unsaved lost, but our very brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ being depleted, broken down and struggling spiritually because they are alone. Many are not receiving the filling of encouragement, truth and perseverance that comes from God’s command to not forsake the fellowship, the laying on of hands and prayer. When we gather together we offer life by shooting down the lies of the enemy with truth. We mourn with those who mourn by offering a hug that is so desperately needed (Romans 12:15). We can help the weak and encourage the faint hearted (1 Thessalonians 5:14) to keep fighting the good fight and to run this race with endurance(Hebrew 12:1). 

        We need each other! Everyone has a breaking point and what a tactical advantage for the enemy when he has successfully divided us by keeping us from gathering, and then starts to conquer each one through isolation.  

         It is our duty, our honor and our purpose to be the salt and light of the earth by bringing the hope of Jesus to those who have none and spurring one another on to finish this race. Jesus wasn't afraid of the leper. In fact, the very effect of his touch healed not just their physical disease but the loneliness and depression that came from the effects of isolation. What better time for us to act as Christ. To show hope and love and to be the power and authority of Christ we are called to be.

        1 Thessalonians 5 and Hebrews 10:23-25 speaks specifically on how to act during the troublesome time of the Day of the Lord...

“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another...”

...“hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

         Because of our hurting community, and God’s commissions to “seek and save the lost”, “bind up the broken hearted”, “set the captives free” and “heal the sick”, it was with strong conviction and compassion that RYR opened its doors to our ranch families who had reached out desperately for help. For the past two months our volunteers and mentors have been a sturdy, constant, tangible and huggable support in our ranch families’ lives. We are showing our youth and parents that we will stand by them through thick and thin, encouraging them through life’s highs and lows with the love and grace of God. We know that unfortunate circumstances and heartbreaking trauma have already befallen on them and the fallout of Coronavirus is just yet another weighing circumstance that continues to affect these already unsteady and tender children.        

        Our mission is to be a safe environment for hurting children and their families to grow and heal. This includes all aspects of health: mental, emotional, spiritual and physical. We have taken conscientious measures to ensure the safety of all we serve. Jesus is hope. Jesus is life. Jesus is the King of Kings on the throne who knows every hair on his children’s heads, every tear that they shed, and desires to set them free.

      We are a Redemption Youth Ranch where lives are rescued, restored and redeemed by the love of Jesus the Christ. We don't stop at loving and mentoring youth, but are a sanctuary to our community to find rest in God’s peace, relief in His grace and be renewed by the power of His presence. So it is with great joy and passion, Redemption Youth Ranch will be extending that mission to you, our community, by hosting a “Night of Praise and Worship” in lieu of our annual Hoedown.  Although our fundraising “hoedown” will look a little bit different this year, we will very much still celebrate the victories of our youth and praise God for His good work. It is our deepest desire that this event will be a safe environment for you and I, the Body of Christ, to find rest for our soul, relief from the battle, rejuvenated by the Holy Spirit and to freely worship our Savior with a joyful noise of hymns and songs.

...“but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 5:19

        Please join us for our night of prayer and praise Saturday, September 12th from 6-8pm. Please RSVP by text to 530 797-6621. Each family should bring a blanket, chairs and, if you so choose, a picnic dinner for their family.

Excitedly awaiting our time together,

Roxy Young

Assurance

by Roxy Young

       Tangled up in diffidence and doubt, the young 10 year old girl grasped the lead rope being used as a makeshift rein and half heartedly tried to make the horse yield to her cues. Although imitating the motions of her instructor, her lack of self-esteem and self-confidence overruled her ability to lead, and therefore her horse stood un-waivered. Trying several more tepid attempts, which produced fruitless, the horse finally filled in the gaps and obliged her request. She soaked in the much needed relief from success and rubbed her horse’s neck. Her mentor continued demonstrating how to pitch the rope around the horse’s nose and pick up the slack. Following suit, the girl weakly tossed the rope from the horse’s left side to his right and unsuccessfully hit the back of his ears. Immediately feeling sorry and filled with resolve not to hurt her horse again, she pitched the rope with gusto, fully clearing the horse’s ears and nose, like a true cowgirl handy with a rope. Elated and reveling in her new found ability, she gathered up the rope, made a coil, tipped his nose and yielded her horse’s hind end successfully. Not a single ounce of resistance came from the horse as he contently minded her cue, now confident in the girl’s leadership.  With great fervor the mentor asked, “Did you see that?” Upon realizing what had just transpired, the girl’s face lit up with excitement and surprise. The mentor motioned to her heart and championed, “This changed!”

       Often at the ranch when working with horses we talk about presence; the energy that flows from one’s body based on the strength and confidence one has on the inside. In the very moment that young girl let go of any doubt she had in herself, and shed from her timidity letting assurance take the wheel, her trusting steed felt safe to follow her command.

       This begs the question: how do you produce something you don’t feel you have? You find it. You grow it. In this situation the young girl realized her lack of confidence had hurt a creature that she felt had value; more value in her eyes then staying in her insecurity. This sprung her to dig deep and summon up what she didn’t think she had. The fruit? A young girl learning that she is capable. Often you will hear from this girl's mouth, “I can’t”, even when in the midst of doing it. Her abilities are growing little by little and with it seeing her God given value and worth.