Summer activities

Wow, I know it has been along time since I wrote. I have been so busy outdoors. Golfing, hiking, camping. I have done some amazing hikes, what a beautiful world our God has made!! My Mom, 71 yrs, came hiking and camping with me for a few days. We hiked up to the Tea house at Lake Louise and did the whole Sunshine circuit. She did awesome! and I am so proud of her!
There is still so much I want to do this summer before fall programs start up. Hikes and camping that are calling my name.
My most recent hike was to Rockbound Lake beside Castle Mountain.........breathtaking!!
My ladies hiking group also did "Hailstorm Butte which was equally breath-taking. I will get pictures up when I have time.
The Brad Jersak Book, "Can You Hear Me" has been a steep curve. There is so much in each chapter that I have had trouble taking it all in. I have included a website that talks about imaginative prayer, that you can try out. That is just the tip of the ice burg when it comes to hearing God. I will post Jersak's site for you to check out as well.
God is speaking to us all the time. Don't you long to hear all he has to say.
http://www.bradjersak.com/

How Do We Pray with Our Imagination?

How Do We Pray with Our Imagination?

prayer

Jersak's book, "Can you hear me" Chapter one suggests 7 ways we may hear God. Test them for yourself and you will see, he is speaking to you.

1) Invitation -to believe in him
2) Scripture -the most common way and you'll know it!
3) Teachers - I think my pastor has been following me around, how does he know those things
4) Worship -lyrics, music, dance, theatre
5) Conviction -oh yeah, I hear yah, that was definitely not the thing to do, but hey good stuff too
6) Burdens - wonder why you can't get that person off your mind......take action
7) Prompting - passing on the blessing or encouragement.

OK, I have experienced most of them, but following through with some of them just seems a little weird, especially the last two. So this week I was determined to listen for his voice more attentively and follow through. Two extraordinary things happened, one I am waiting to see the result of. Perhaps I will be even bolder in believing God and step outside my comfort zone.
The bible is rampant (may I use that word here) with examples of God speaking in the lives of everyday people in everyday ways and He says he has not changed.
This week, chapter 2, Awaken Hearts: How we Hear and See God. Stay tuned!

Why do you complain that God answers none of man's words?

For God does speak-now one way, now another-though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night; when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds; he may speak to them in their ears..

Job 33:13 -15

Hiking Headwall Lakes

What a beautiful day to hike and spend time in God's creation! This is my second attempt at seeing the second lake/meadow and hubby has never been. Well, it was not to be this time either. After a leisurely lunch at the first lake pictured here we hiked up to the second lake and there on the alpine meadow we met the home owner. He would not be deterred in laying claim to his domain and searching for food. So we beat a reluctant but hasty retreat. We had a great hike, made some new friends and memories. God's creations are awesome and deserving of great respect. You know............grizzly bears are really very very BIG!

How many are your works, Oh Lord! In wisdom you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

Psalm 104:24

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. He gives food to each creature.

His love endures forever.

Psalm 136: 1 & 25

Hiking2

What an awesome weekend! Happy Canada Day from the top of Kindersley Pass in Kootenay National park. Great weather, great health and great friends. It is 10.5 K to the summit and then further and steeper to the peek. One picture from there and the second is Sinclair Creek on the way down another 7.2 K. Total elevation gain was 1000 m. We fondly call this hike the Nazi hike, well you feel the painful result in the days to come. I was not sure I could do it as, silly me, I was still on meds. for pneumonia. How glorious that God helped me!

We did two rounds of golf, one with family and the second with two strangers. One with difficult personality, but God won over on that account as well. Not one of us is perfect and so we must see each other with his eyes not our own.

While G, M and J were on the peek God brought a scripture to mind which he will shared with us and now you. They also took time to pray for a dear friend who does not know the Lord, but does love his creation. Hear our prayer oh Lord.

The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.

They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies;

yet their message has gone out to all the earth,

and their words to all the world.

Psalm 19: 1 -4

Wow, it has been over a week since the last post. Well, my excuses are golf and hiking, got to get out there! Next week I begin a discussion group for the summer on the book "Can You Hear Me" by Brad Jersak. It is about listening prayer. Already it has been thought provoking. He supposes that we all hear from God in many ways but tend to excuse it as immagination, coincidence or impossible and silly. Yet the bible is very clear that we will hear God and in fact Jesus promised it several times. Jersak is clear, in that we must test what we think is God's voice because there are many reasons for people to error. I will share some of my thoughts as I go along.
Meanwhile here is a picture of my hike this week.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.

He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard.

He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me.

John 16:13-16

Observe

I see the world from a different view,

I was not here when all was new.

I travelled a short time on its varied path

Each one with joys and sorrows past.

At then end will I be free to say,

God, I saw it all your way.

Perhaps mankind's ways will intervene,

Political correctness' solomn keen;

Over-shadow what was clear to me,

God created all.

For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualitites - his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,

so that men are without excuse.

Romans 1:19-20

A little brag

We just found out my son Jd made the Dean's list this year at U of C. Well done, your hard work and great brilliance have been recognized by all... Sorry, just a little of motherhood braggin.
All proud! xxoo

Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your

reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ.

Colossians 3:23 &24

Art & Beauty

I was reading a passage in the Exodus where God asked the people to come forward to donate thier possessions and skills as artists to create his temple. What was interesting is that God said he had gifted certain people with great wisdom, intelligence and skills in all kinds of crafts, plus the ability to teach them to others. God said he definitely enhanced these people's abilities to a greater level so their works would inspire others and glorify him.
I think of the many artists works I know or have seen. Some pictures, music and statues definitely are set apart and inspire. Many, many more are just there and are interesting in some way. While art may speak to us at different levels, God's art reaches deep inside of us and shows us something of him.
God, of course, for me, is the original artist. Besides the incredible world around me, in my home is a granite counter. It is stunning, how stone can look like its moving and living; everyday I enjoy its beauty and it imparts to me the glory of its creator.

Exodus 35:31-35

The Lord filled Bezalel ( Ohoiab and other craftsmen) with the Spirit of God, giving them great wisdom, intelligence and skill in all kinds of crafts. They are able to design and create beautiful objects from metals, fabrics, jems and wood......In fact He has given every necessary skill...including the ability to teach others. They excell in all the crafts needed for the work.

Prayer1

I have started reading a book about prayer, but it is not about talking, its about listening. The author makes a good point in that we often complain that we do not get answers for our prayers, but in fact we are not really listening. He suggests that just like we do not hear all the audio waves that constantly bombard the air around us, its because we do not use the equipment required. So keep tuned. For now we can model Samuel:

Samuel did not know the Lord yet because he had never had a message form him yet... Eli realized it was the Lord speaking and told Samuel if someone calls him again to answer..."Yes, Lord, your servant is listening."

Samuel 3:7-10

Golf

What can I say! I love it; being outdoors, walking, spending time with good friends and family, trying to improve yourself at a sport. Participating sport is a big deal to me. I have never been athletic! I was never encouraged to be so and was overweight most of my life. So here I am now, most likely, the fittest I have ever been and enjoying it. Today it was 29C, can I say it WORD. That's it word! (meaning in this case great). We had some great shots, hitting the pin, parring a par 5, great drives, putts and chips. I didn't realize how great it can feel to exert yourself physically, that really, we were made for it. Thanks to my friends for making it a wonderful day M & K, & MT!

All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it to win an eternal prize. So run straight to the goal with purpose in every step, not like a boxer who misses his punches. Discipline your body like an athlete, training it to do what it should...

1 Cornithians 9: 25-27

Birthdays

Monday was the twins b-day, they were born at 5 am only 13 min, apart. WOW that's speed. We used a birthing chair, maybe that helped. Every year with them has been great. Now they are adults (most of the time) and choose thier own paths. I know as a parent it is what I have spent my time teaching; independance, self-confidence, generousity, mercy, hard work and so much more. Now that it has arrived, I am both proud in the present and saddened for those times in the past when they looked to me. Guy's you turned out so well, now the future is yours, but I am still here for love and maybe a little wisdom. God bless, he is always with you.

Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.

Proverbs 22:6

Heroes

I saw 2 movies this weekend that had quite different heroes. Pirates of the Carib. and Spiderman. One must say that Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom definitely add to the scenery +++, and Depp makes a great pirate!! But a mixed kind of hero. I would have to say it is definitely about the entertainment. Now Spiderman, there is a conflict we all face sometime. Revenge and what it can do to our hearts. Desire for what others have that we do not, covetting.
There are many kinds of heroes but maybe the truest hero, is us, when we struggle, to be our best and do our best. When we overcome that which causes us the greatest stumble; when we step outside of ourselves and serve others just because; when we suceed to be, even if only for a moment, that person we have always desired to be.

We are pressed on evey side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed but we don't give up and quit...We get knocked down but we get up again and keep going... but God never abandons us....everyone can see our power is from God and not our own.

2 Corinthians 4:8 & 9

Sleeping with cats

It used to be that I had children sleeping with me, but now I have cats. You see their pictures here. In the morning when I awake there is one at my side and one behind my knee. Do I just wake up or is that I cannot not move that wakens me. Keisha sleeps more than I can keep track of. They say only sloths sleep more. Sasha awakes with me and is ready to do something and tells me so. Are they so peaceful because they hear God clearly when He says;

I lift my eyes up to the hills - where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber or sleep.

The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever.

Psalm 121

Hope

I accidentlly met a friend in Regina, this weekend, who has suffered many years with auto-immune disease of unknown origin. He has faced death. He now has cancer of unknown origin, stage 3 or 4. He was so upbeat and peaceful. His outcome is not good, but his future is assured.

He gives me pause to consider my life, my space, the sigh that lives in this moment.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like the eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Sighs

Everyday we sigh
the warmth of joy
tremble of sorrow
pant of love
moan of pain.
The sharpness of anger
slump of sorrow
ahhh of peace
all to choose, all to leave.
You and I choose the path
to shape our sigh.