Feasting with God

Too many of us fritter our lives away waiting for the next big pay off. For the ultimate job, or the perfect holiday; for graduation , or a wedding day; for opening nights or birthdays, or the first day of summer. We yearn for the day that our hopes will be fulfilled, our efforts rewarded, our struggles explained, and our hungers satisfied. What we too often miss is this; God is at work all along. He is arranging celebrations in between the ones we have scheduled and inviting us to feast like the sons and daughters we already are while his party -to -end -all parties is being made ready. Leigh Mcleroy.

More than God wants me to perform for him, he wants me to relax and lean on Him, and give him control of everything. He wants me to cling on him like a nursing child depended on his mother for life saving milk. Why does he want that of me? Because he means to feed me, and all those I love at a table , a feast in the wilderness of my messy life.

This last month I had been in a long tunnel, with perhaps a light just out of my grasp. Seemingly overwhelmed ,and running to get through everyday. And Sunday I was challenged to this word of truth "The life of the future is here in Jesus". Not when my circumstances change, not even when those I love change. But right here, right now. I was challenged to pray in the name of Jesus, with God's authority. And with boldness and my answer would come. Pray for a miracle and God will answer, if not now in the life to come.
The Challenge was put forward in  4 categories to ask for prayer.
1. Pray for repentance.
2. Pray for healing with authority and expect a miracle, and tell others when it happens.
3. Those with chronic pain that have asked for healing and it hasn't come, remember you will be healed if not now in the life to come. Look forward to it accept it now.
 4.If you are totally out of energy and parched from life, pray for refreshment for your soul. He will restore your joy.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness , for they shall be satisfied". Mathew 5:6

Real life seldom fulfils our wildest hopes, and the gap between what we have and what we long for can open quite wide. Occasionally we catch a vision of truth and beauty that takes our breath away and reminds us of what we miss. We are richer if we do not look away. Leigh Mcleroy.

Turning 52

Yup, that's me 52. Thought it was no big deal until my husband kept saying-52 "eh", wow 52. Do I need a cane? A closer look in the mirror? Thought I was doing pretty good-I don't know 52 doesn't sound that old to me-it used to , but not anymore. Normally I'm chipper and jumping around celebrating-but somehow this year -I'm tired. Maybe it's because I'm not 51? Maybe the roll over year takes a year off of your energy cycle? Or maybe I just have to many things going at once and I can't multi task like I used to. Instead of bragging to my man about how many things I can do at once -maybe just maybe I need to realise 52 -yes it is a big deal. Lately I been thinking about the ad in the paper -you know the one ?It's about a dog named lucky-
LOST DOG!
Black and tan dog of Poodle and German Shepherd descent.
Flea-bitten
Missing left hind-leg
No hair on rump
Going blind
Too old for tricks
Might bite if cornered
Answers to the name of "Lucky"
Only I've modified it for me
Lost Woman
Blond blue eyed of German and Russian descent
Bad back
severed ankle ligament
hot flashes
under eye bags
shoulder ailments
memory malfunctions
sagging areas
tires easily
missing good nights sleep
will bite when criticised
Answers to the name "Lucky"
Yup that's me-I'm lucky.
Lucky to live in peace.Lucky to have food and clothing. Lucky to have a home. Lucky to have a faithful husband. Lucky to have three beautiful children. Lucky to have wonderful friends. Lucky to have grandchildren. Blessed by God.Lucky to be alive.

Fridays Thoughts

So it's Friday and I'm back on the computer. Most of you haven't missed me at all. You see my adventure started last Monday morning. Rudy was doing office work and I approached the office with the words every man likes to hear. No...not those words -these words-"honey do you want to take me for an ATV ride after work today?". To some of you this is normal to my husband first time ever. You see with all my back issues and such I avoid the ATV. I have a family that giggles with delight on these things...but for me another story. I was feeling brave and strong- I can do this...plus we had this gorgeous brand new ATV for another day ( and it wasn't costing us anything) so being the cheap ,adventurous warrior wife that I am I asked for a ride. Yup it was all me. MY husband to my chagrin said he needed to think about this for awhile. So I left my sacrifice of dignity with him and waited with calm suspense until he agreed that it would be a good idea. Short ride, he'll be very careful over the bumps...and he would show me the pleasure of riding in the wild country of Cultas Lake. I was imagining the song "born to be wild and free" my hair whipping in the wind and maybe a romantic kiss by the shores of the water of Cultas Lake.

 

We decided along with this pleasure to stop by and meet an old friend. He's dying of cancer, he's not much older than us. Was a tough meeting. His family was there we didn't stay long, but we needed to go. We needed to show them we cared, we had no answers for them .They weren't expecting any. Tears were shed, it was sobering. Rudy and I had gone out to a beautiful place for dinner because our friend was sleeping when were first dropped by, the contrast of the pond and it's serenity and the last place before heaven wasn't that different . He was at peace he knew where he was going, he still had a daughter to marry, grandchildren to hug, a wife to grow old with. So much love in each thought, embrace , word.

The words spoken out loud was he's still doing whatever he can until he can't anymore. Living life to the fullest. He was holding on to earth, he still had a daughter to marry. I guess that sealed the fate of my ATV ride, all apprehension of the ATV ride was lost.

 

We got to Cultas Lake shortly after 6:00pm, and as we were unloading our ATV I voiced jokingly to my husband do we really know what we are doing? Was it the giddiness of trying something new?

Anyways I surprised myself with the authority I used to leap out of my comfort zone and tackle this evening of ours. Even the outdoor plumbing that I partook of didn't phase me one bit. Who are you ? Ya , I know I was asking myself the same question.

Off we went , helmets on (should have worn my back brace-too late). It was beautiful, serene and fun to be on a bike with my sweetie. Anytime it's too much we'll just turn around, okay. OKAY, I got this. Well I had my camera with us and an insatiable desire to take amazing pictures. He promised me a view that trump's all other views I have seen. So when I started to grumble , he cautiously told me it wasn't much further. The next stop we took, had no view and I had been regurgitating my dinner for awhile already and I was walking as a cowboy after a days ride. But when asked, I was okay. Yup that's what I said. Wanted that million dollar view. We drove on, and saw a dear in the distance. He stopped for a picture and drink in the tranquillity . I was too frozen and too stiff to come off the ATV so he took the picture. I kept that news to myself, only I did say I had enough. Now to get back, what's happening in my jaw I thought? I don't normally quench my teeth? Weird, ignored it. MMm,  this crazy trail didn't take us back to the truck, then it must be this one, nope not that one either. Seriously how can these trails all not lead in a loop back to the truck? Look at the beautiful sunset honey,said he, yes it is but instead of the romantic kiss I imagined I  was starting to get anxious. We did see some beautiful views of the valley below, a deer , and in the end a bear, chased behind him on the trail for awhile...had no intention on stopping for a picture though. And as the sun starting going down I asked him to please not leave me on the mountain for night. He assure me he wouldn't. And I guess after all the head bumping that I experienced from the back of his helmet to my forehead amnesia must have made me think he was right. I did the only thing I could do, held on and prayed to make it back to the truck. You know we made it back because here's the story, 10:00pm, pitch dark, no picture. We drove home in silence, I wasn't mad , just in rough shape. Took a muscle relaxant and thought well this will make a funny story and it will all be over soon.

 Not so, well parts of this story were very funny , other part weren't . Long and short the ambulance was called Tuesday late morning, I've never had so much pain in my life. High fever, heart was going wild (again that song, born to be wild and free--what where did that come from?). Blood pressure out of control, etc. I have whiplash and some kinda of a weird virus, that made things even worse. Emergency doctor thought I might have meningitis, but I don't. So that's my story. That's my thoughts. My son had knee surgery yesterday. I think he's in better shape than I am. I'm on the mend, and I defiantly made me some memories.

 What are you Friday thoughts? No lectures please this gals already learnt her lesson.

turtles taking a rest

love these

Outdoor dinner

watching the canadian geese



Calm and serene Church setting



and the journey begins

view on our ride

deer

another beautiful day

still smiling

sun setting-getting a little more worried

moon out not back to the truck yet

Thursday's Thoughts

All this pain
I wonder if I'll ever find my way?
I wonder if my life could really change at all?

All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come up from this ground at all?

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

Oh, you make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
Making me new

You make beautiful things
(You make me new)
You make beautiful things out of the dust
(You are making me new, making me new)

You make beautiful things
(You make me new)
You make beautiful things out of us
(You are making me new, making me new)
Oh, you make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

Gungor-beautiful things.

"From this side of glory we see the tapestry from underneath, and it is full of knots and twisted threads and frayed ends that lack meaning and beauty. From God's perspective , it is all under control." -Charles Swindoll
Another death , another cancer victim. Thoughts swirl through my head and I wonder why? Another day I shouldn't have said that, I wish I would have done something more. Why is it so easy for me to sin and so hard for me to find freedom? And I'm learning that the adventure to follow Jesus does not mean I am in the back seat of a limousine, waving to others like royalty. God is leading me through rough waters. The storms of life don't pass and then never show up again.
"Just cling to the knowledge that you could be in no safer place than the storm of His making. You are safer and more secure in the tempest with Jesus than you could ever be in the calmest place without Him."-David Jeremiah
As the song says you make beautiful things out of the dust, you are making me new. Painful at times , beautiful at other times. It is not for me to understand but to rest in the loving arms of Jesus.
May you walk encouraged today.

Thankful For:
The rain to water the garden
The sun to grow flowers
Longer days of daylight
Rudy and I are still cancer free
Grandchildren who remind me boogers are a fact of life.