Prayer at the Park

I almost didn't go.
The day looked ominous - cold and cloudy.
And I hate being cold.
The retreat was to be outdoors, at a park on the lake.
But memories of our last contemplative retreat drove me on...
Knowing I would have a specific amazing encounter with the Lord.
It would be so worth it,

So I DID!  And it was AMAZING!
So very worth it.
HE was so present.
The earth was pulsating with His life,
The Wind, the Waves, The Earthy Smells,
The Birds and Chipmunks, The Rustling Leaves.
The rough gnarly bark on the towering pines.
The rays of warm sunlight breaking through the clouds and warming my back.

Oh my word.
HIS WORD BECAME LIFE.
He literally spoke all of what I saw into existence and it was GOOD!

So in my meditation upon Genesis I was struck with a thought fairly early on and I didn't make it through the entire reading.
I got what I needed and more right in the first couple of verses.

"but the Spirit of God was moving"

and the next profound thought came with part of the following verse...

"and He separated the darkness from the light"


So there are situations in the lives of my family and loved ones where I am believing and praying for the Spirit of God to be moving... and I pray also that HE WILL separate the darkness from the light.

I am waiting and expectant.

Inspired

Today just might be a really important day in my life.

It started off with Patrice serving me French Toast and blueberries which was pretty spectacular.  Oh how I LOVE THAT GIRL!!

We went to church and it was the loveliest thing to be surrounded by God's people while we worshipped and listened for His guidance and leading.  So many people I love gathering to seek Jesus on this September morning.
Felt celebratory and full of joy and anticipation...
Graham taught out of Philippians 2 and it was amazing.
If Christ Jesus considered Himself a slave 
it is most fitting that we should do the same.
Oh Man.
It's a high calling.
To be His slave and to serve others.
Lots to wrap your head around and even more to submit to.
But it's the best way to live once you get the hang of it I hear...

And then I went out for lunch with two dear ladies.
There were years of catching up as one of them has only come back to Kelowna in the last year and we haven't really connected yet.

So, in the midst of the sharing
(mostly mine, I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit)
Anita commented that I should write a book.

Now I've heard this several times over the years and have even attempted to start writing more to make this into a reality, but there was never enough fire on it to keep it moving. Plus I have years of journals full of my "story" and now several years worth of this blog.  So I felt that when and if the "book" was going to be written it would just happen.  Haha.  Kinda like if I got healed there would be the lovely last chapter that would make the whole book worth writing!

And I didn't really have a strong call or vision at that point.

But the way this "invitation" was worded today struck me as the clearest reason to date that I could possibly want to start on this venture.

It wouldn't just be "my story" which would end up being a very short novella due to my lack of memory for details and such.
It would be the fleshing out of what I shared at church at the beginning of August when I was asked to speak on "living with Joy".

That time of sharing ended up being me telling much of my personal journey through the past 26 years of being wheelchair-bound and how my walk with God has carried me through the highs and lows of that.

I also spoke about my wrestle with the "healing issue" and how I have come to such a place of peace (for the most part) in seeking Jesus instead of healing.  And how I have met Him in the place of suffering and have slowly learned to embrace the cross and let the blood of Jesus drip over and onto me as I trust Him.

So I began to imagine that this might be a possibility.

Right there in that restaurant with that earnest face looking across the table at me - inviting me to share my story with others who suffer and are not healed.
Perhaps not "New York Times Bestseller" material, but for some people it could bring hope and perspective and help when they've felt let down by God in a church culture that seems to want to pray suffering away and offer a package deal of God and healing being one and the same.  ASAP

And I know He is Healer.
But when the healing comes slowly,
So slowly that it sometimes manifests in heaven... people can grow discouraged.
Or feel the need to press in even harder for more healing because they feel they have missed something.
When I start to go down that road I lose sight of the lovely face of Jesus.
And I feel like I'm doing something wrong.
I get discouraged and feel condemned.

So when I said "there are already so many books" she reminded me that my story is my story and might be important for others to hear.
I realized that there was merit in recognizing that my story had value and I will begin to ask the Lord about when and if to start writing.

This dear Anita even volunteered to meet with me on a monthly basis to get things rolling and to help me sort through my thoughts.

So, stay tuned.
This might be a door I need to move through...

CERTIFIED!!

I've been trying now for several years to get certified to give a certain test that will really help me in my work as a Reading Therapist.  I have traveled to Sooke and to Ottawa and recently to Victoria to obtain this certification.  For many reasons this journey has been very complicated, but I can now report that the miracle has occurred.  I am certified to give the test and to write a report that will give a valid diagnosis which may help kids get funding and will help us to give them the specific help they need to get them reading.  Here is Abby and myself taking the ferry over to Vancouver Island.  I was trying to look like a movie star with my hair blowing in the wind but it didn't quite turn out the way I had imagined it...

Abbie pulled it off, but I comforted myself by attributing her movie-star look to the dark glasses... 

Two incredible evenings spent at the Victoria Harbour watching the sunset and eating dinner overlooking the water.  Incredible! 

It felt like a gift from God that they found us a little spot on the patio at this lovely restaurant on the water!

This place never gets old...

There was also homework that needed to be done when we weren't sightseeing! 

And our wonderful, Godly, wise instructor who lives a "missionary life" and inspires us to view our work in the same manner.  

Endless Celebrations!

Ok, this cuteness has been happening in our backyard recently when Elsie comes to visit with her new little "Pupcake"  

And this dear and beautiful friend got married on a hot September day under the glorious sunshine.  Here she is in my bedroom where she got ready for the occasion.

Such a perfect and wonderful couple - they are both so lovely...

These girls have all been well loved by Louise over many years.

And this?  Absolute delight!  Seven dogs on our back patio with Oma and Tante Hilda.