I have been reading the book Captivating.  I had it for awhile, and skimmed through it, but never really sat down to actually read it.  Wow!  Has God been taking another layer off the onion or what!  I have been weeping through parts of it, finding healing, repenting, and finding joy in the knowledge of His intense love for me, and feeling His presence in a new way.  Here are a few exerpts from the book I thought you might enjoy...

     God wants us to live this life together with you, to share in your days and decisions, your desires and disappointments.  He wants intimacy with you in the midst of the madness and mundane, the meetings and memos, the laundry and the lists, the carpools and converstions and projects and pain.  He wants to pour his love into your heart and he longs to have you pour yours into his.  He wants your deep heart, that center place within that is the truest you.  He is not interested in intimacy with the woman you think you are supposed to be.  He wants intimacy with the real you.

   Here's how the flow goes in Hosea.  First, God says that he will thwart our efforts to find life apart from him..  Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes, I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.  She will chase after her lovers but not catch them: she will look for them but not find them. Hosea 2:6-7

  He does this, as we said, in order to wear us out, get us to trun back to him in thirsty longing.  Then he begins to woo us.  He often takes us aside from every other source of comfort so that he alone can have our heart's attention..Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.  Hos.2:14

   And it is here that we begin to experience him not as the God-way-up-there, not the God-of-Sunday-mornings, but as the pursuer of our hearts.  As Lover.

       "In that day, "declares the Lord, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master'...   I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth yu in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion'.  Hos.2:16,19

   In the spacious love of God, our souls can lie down and rest.  This love from him is not something we must struggle for, earn, or fear to lose.  It is bestowed.  He has bestowed it upon us.  He has chosen us.  And nothing can separate us from his love.  Not even we, ourselves.  We are made for such a love.  Our hearts yearn to be loved intimately, personally and yes, romantically.  We are created to be the object of desire and affection of one who is totally and completely in love with us.

   And we are.

   An intimate relationship with Jesus is not only for other women, for women who seem to have their acts together, who appear godly and whose nails are nicely shaped.  It is for each and every one of us.  God wants intimacy with YOU!  In order to have it, you, too, must offer it to him.

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    This is just a small taste- I could go on for a long time!  I firmly believe that every woman should read this book.  You will find healing in places you didn't know you needed healing, and you will never be the same!!!  So find yourself the book Captivating by John and Staci Eldredge, and be blessed!  Also check out Ransomed Heart Ministries!

 I thought I'd post some pics of our recent camping trip with my family.  We went to a cottage/cabin in ParrySound Ontario.  It was beautiful, with a lake, enclosed porches, beach house and a canoe to go riding and fishing in.  We had a wonderful time.  Here you are!

the beautiful view from the cottage

a gorgeous sunset view

my hubby cooking while mom looks on

a yummy potato and veggie medley we made

my sis-in-law with her son (MY nephew)!

Garrett being decorated

my dad grilling

daddy and son

OH Canada, our home and native land....!

Hello folks!  Hope everyone had a nice holiday!  Last evening we went pontooning with Mark's sister Judith and her husband Tim, Mark's parents, his uncle and a few of his cousins on Judith and Tim's pontoon.  We went out on Lake Wawasee and Lake Syracuse to eat supper and watch fireworks.  We had a great time.  Today we were just doing a few projects here at home and were thinking about inviting some neighbours over for the evening around a campfire, but then Mark met an old friend at Walmart this morning and they invited us to come over to their house to watch the airshow for free and we'll get to see a bunch of old friends there too!  Well, have a great weekend!