God Is Good.

Psalm 139

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

What else is there to say really...God is good. He knows me better then I know myself. He knows what I need even before I can know to ask for it. He has provided for me in ways I never dreamed possible. This trip to Edmonton was just what I needed.

God Is Good.

Skakes

where has my summer gone?

Life seems to be moving at a break neck pace for me lately. I find myself asking on a semi daily basis “Where did summer go?” I have yet to really find a whole lot of answers to that question. However, I do know that my religious studies seminar in North American Religions will be over next week (one paper and a final exam left!) and before I know it I will be off to Olds to once again coach at NBC camps (for the majority of Aug). Between finishing my class and going to Olds I will have a quick visit with some epic friends from Edmonton (Maia and Irene), get caught up with a few friends here, take a fast trip northward to Edmonton, and then possibly get some reading done. I have managed to accumulate a vast library of books this summer. I’m a sucker when it comes to bargain sales at chapters and dove. As of right now my stack of unread books stand 35 high (not counting books or reading material people have given me on loan). While I have accumulated the majority of these books over the last year and a half it is still quite the number of books for one to have in their unread possession. I think I will try to pick a top five and stick with it. So I am counting on you the reader to keep me accountable!

1. Father Joe – Toney Hendra
2. The Weight of Glory – C.S. Lewis
3. Who Can You Trust? – Howard E. Butt, Jr.
4. The Irresistible Revolution – Shane Claiborne
5. Lamb – Christopher Moore

Skakes – Found this on a blog I was reading that a friend sent me. I really enjoyed it so I wanted to pass it on.

“Though it comes from the section of the Anglican Prayer Book for use by someone who is sick, it is a great prayer for anyone, anytime.


This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.”

“God’s invitation to live out or individual vocations is part of what makes the world so marvelously rich. “How gloriously different are the saints” wrote C.S. Lewis. The problem comes when we begin to believe that we have to be someone else to be holy. We use someone else’s ways to heaven when God has already planted in our soul all the directions we need. In that way, we ignore or own call to sanctity. When admirers used to visit Calcutta to see Mother Teresa, she would tell them “find your own Calcutta”. In other words, bloom where you are planted. Discover sanctity in your own life.”

Excerpt from Becoming Who You Are – Insights on the true self from Thomas Merton and other saints. By James Martine, SJ.

Skakes

All in all the trip up and back was great. I really enjoyed getting to see friends but most importantly have some great conversations with people I deeply care about. I think that is one of the things that I have really come to miss in the last year. Not that I do not have people here in town to have such epic conversations with...I just miss being able to talk so deeply with the people that have moved away. There is just something about talking to people over the phone that makes deep conversations hard for me to carry out. I think it’s the lack of physical interaction. You only have the voice to listen to when your conversations are entirely over the phone. When you can meet and talk in person you can read so much more into the person’s thoughts and feelings. Its harder for them to mask what they are really feeling or thinking...its also easier to see how much they truly do care about you and how much they are enjoying your presence. Due to these factors I think I will be making a few more roadtrips this summer to reconnect with people I love and care greatly about.

On another note God and I have been having an Epic month. Started out kind of rocky but God has moved me into a space that has allowed me to realize who He has truly made me to be. I won’t really be saying too much more about it as it is still an open dialogue between God and I…just know that if I haven’t been around much this summer…it is not because I don't like you or I am avoiding you…the truth is quite the contrary. I have just needed my space to figure things out between God and I. The quote below is something that I have come to realize is of paramount importance in my walk with God. It’s taken me a long time to get to this point…and being human I will probably find myself back in a space some point soon again where I will need to trust God inexplicitly but will find it difficult to do. But tonight I can say that nothing has been more joyous about the journey of the past month then God giving me the faith and trust of a child in there parent that all will be well no matter how dark the road ahead looks.

“Faith is risking what is for what is yet to be. It is taking small steps knowing they lead to bigger ones. Faith is holding on when you want to let go. It is letting go when you want to hold on. Faith is saying yes then everything else says no. it is believing all things are possible in the midst of impossibilities. Faith is looking beyond what is and trusting for what will be it is the presence of light in darkness, the presence of God in all.”
-Ellen. M. Cuorno

Skakes