The God Who Speaks - Feb. 2007

Dear ones,

I've well and truly entered the busiest part of my year, just returning from Wales and preparing to head to Thailand. In between, I've been trying to write articles, edit a book and do layout / cover design for Fresh Wind's first novel, "Chrysalis Crucible" by Wayne Northey. I realized today that you haven't heard from me in about 7 weeks.

In the midst of all that, a children's pastor in Calgary tried out a prayer exercise we suggested previously (1. What fruit is God growing in your life? 2. What will hinder it? 3. What will help it?). In fact, he tried it on me! Here's what he heard:

"God is nurturing the fruit of patience in you. What hinders it is when you get overwhelmed by requests for your time and when you have trouble discerning when to say 'yes' or 'no'. What would help is if God would provide you with a personal assistant to pray through your requests and organize your schedule."

I was encouraged but bewildered. Encouraged because he was accurately describing something I had complained about more than once just that weekend! But I was bewildered about trying to find a P.A... esp. a volunteer who I could trust. But the pastor prayed for me and I promised to keep my eyes open.

I believe it was that very afternoon that a friend, Julia, from Alberta emailed. Her and her husband had been among those with whom I'd confided my scheduling problems. I had shared that I felt my concerns re: my family, my church, and the needs of those who asked for seminars or prayer often muddied my hearing and I was making mistakes. In fact, I'd double-booked some things and now, I didn't even know when my next flights or trips were. Now, Julia was contacting me to say, "I checked your schedule. Here's whats' next. And by the way, I checked flights and here's the itinerary. And did you notice that you're schedule includes 38 days one month?"

My response: "You're hired." At first I was joking and then I realized, "This is God's answer!" Within a few days, it was all set up... an online P.A. from another province... perfect.

I say all that to introduce today's L.P. questions, because I actually picked them up from Julia after she'd tested them in her study group. It's an excellent exercise for individuals, pairs or groups:

Setting: God has given us all a cup of life which he graciously fills with gifts, so that we may live life abundantly and to the fullest.

Take a moment and picture the cup God has given you. Take note of it's appearance - what does it say to you? About your life? About God?

Prayer and response time: ....Lord, sometimes we feel as though our cup in life is empty but we know that you want to give us good gifts. Please show us one of the gifts with which you would fill my cup.

...and then of course, pursue the Lord with follow up questions of what it might mean, etc.

So, friends, give it a go!

On another note, for those who are into "myspace," I now have a site there at: http://myspace.com/bradjersak ... For those who care, it shares a bit more about who I am and what I'm passionate about.

Much love,

Brad Jersak