Thanksgiving in Alberta

We just spent an amazing weekend in Alberta! Even leaving at 5 am was doable and didn't make anyone overly grouchy. :) The sunrise was beautiful coming up behind us around 8 and the golden rays followed us for quite some time making the horizon around us exceptionably picturesque! I loved the drive...the fall colors made everything so breathtaking!

The kids made us laugh many a time! Recently I bought myself a Blackberry Tablet and as you can tell, the kids had an enjoyable time taking pics of themselves and putting them onto scrapbook pages. :) Oh it makes for memorable times alright. haha! As family we've always enjoyed family drives.This one has definitely made it into the great memory book. Our kids are growing up and there's not too many times when we're all in the same vehicle driving together anymore. I'm so glad we got another trip in, even if it was a short one.

My nephew Tristan got married to a wonderful gal named Lisa :)  The wedding was at Camp Caroline in Alberta. The location was breathtaking and the event itself was superb. We're so glad we went! After the reception we drove to Mike & Carmen's, Roger's cousin. We got there at 11 pm and just knew we would wake up to breathtaking beauty in the morning.....but it still grabbed my heart and my emotions big time! I had never seen such beauty! I could not believe the portrait God had painted for me that morning! WOW!

The tears came freely as I drank in the sight My Lord had given me this Thanksgiving Sunday! My heart was overflowing with awe as my finger snapped away photo after photo. Oh God is so good! Again I must say wow!

Roger and the girls had gone for a walk before we got ready for church. It was quite funny cause Alysha just wanted to go down to them there hills. The hills were much farther away than she thought. :) But they walked down to the valley down below and back up. Well I must say they were a little tired. But what a beautiful morning to do that.

We had a wonderful morning attending Mike and Carmen's church singing worship songs of God's creation. After experiencing such an incredible time experiencing God's creation and then singing about it to was almost too much for my emotions to take. Wow! What a morning of worship! I LOVE the opportunity to worship together with other Followers of Jesus Christ in a Bible believing church. One of the major highlights of traveling is worshipping God with others in their church. Such beauty in the Family of God all over the world.

After church we went to a really cool 50's Diner in Black Diamond where the food was very very good and we chose songs from the 45's jukebox....really cool. The candy aisle and the ice cream was out of this world! Then we took the MOST AMAZING Sunday afternoon drive EVER! They live a half hour away from the Kananaskis Valley.....oooooh such amazing beauty to behold!

We drove to the falls and had a lovely hike and took some amazing pictures. Both the girls had my cameras and I had this Blackberry. :) What fun we had!

The views were breathtaking! It truly was the best Sunday afternoon ever!

Waking up to another beautiful breathtaking sunrise was absolutely glorious!

I could have spent a week sittin on this porch taking in the beauty each day! Wow!

Thank you God for this incredible opportunity to spend time in your creation like this!.

I am in Awe!!

This morning as I was reading through the 1st 5 chapters of Luke, I was struck by how often the Spirit of the Lord came upon people...Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon, Anna, John the Baptist, Jesus himself...and then there were the shepherds who were filled with awe and wonder from the news of the heavenly host...and they couldn't contain it so they ran out to share it!  It made me think of how many times, something really speaks to me, or I am just in awe of it, especially of spiritual things and what God is teaching me through His Word or in Bible study....am I quick to run out and share it?  I pray that I am.  Does it create a passion within me? I pray that it does.

What I also enjoyed sooo much, was reading through this Gospel and "walking & seeing" each of these places that Luke was writing about.  Being in Israel has so completely and totally changed how I read the Bible because now I can absolutely visualize so many places that are written about in the Bible.  I am not the same...I have been changed...forever.  That brings me to my knees and my emotions are overcome.

What struck me most as I was reading, was Peter.  Luke 5 begins with Jesus preaching on the shore of Galilee....(I stood there!  I stood on that shore!!)  But as Jesus was preaching on the shore, the crowds were pressing in.  He noticed 2 empty boats at the water's edge so he stepped into one of them and asked Simon Peter to push them out into the water so he could sit in the boat and teach the crowds from there.  Back then they didn't need any hand held or cordless mics...it was amazing how water carried a person's voice.
So after Jesus finished speaking, he told Simon Peter to take the boat out to where the water was deeper and to let down their nets again.  Peter was not happy about doing this because they had already been fishing all night and had caught nothing.  But, because Jesus had asked him to do this, he was obedient and put out their nets.  WELL!  They caught so many fish instantly that their nets began to tear and Peter had to call in another boat to come help them.  Soon both boats were so full that they were on the verge of sinking.  And then Peter, oh Peter, he was so awestruck & moved that he fell to his knees before Jesus, right there in that boat, and said, "Oh Lord, please leave me--I'm too much of a sinner to be around you."  Immediately when I read this, the tears came pouring out of my eyes and I was overcome by emotion.  Peter was so awestruck by this amazing miracle, his first response was to end up on his knees before His Lord, feeling his own insignificance in comparison to the greatness of Jesus!  Jesus had just been spending days healing the sick and casting out demons but what amazed Peter was that Jesus cared about his day-to-day routine and understood his needs.  God isn't only interested in saving us, but God is also interested in helping us and being with us in our daily activities.

So, here's my question this morning.  When tears just suddenly appeared coursing down my cheeks from simply reading "Oh Lord, please leave me--I'm too much of a sinner to be around you" and my own spirit wanted to bow down to my knees, overcome with great emotion...was this the Spirit of the Lord coming upon me? In a sense, I'm sure it was!  I feel so human all the time, I get frustrated & impatient, I see the negative too often rather than the good, I struggle with insecurity & have a lack of confidence, I have fears & doubts, I have a difficult time maintaining my weight, I don't always make good use of my time, I fail so many times....and the list goes on and on with my human tendancies.  BUT, God has chosen ME for a purpose!  He continues to work in me, through me, around me.  He is not giving up on me and He continually shows me His Faithfulness!  I had stood where Jesus has stood in the Holy Land and I have been on the Sea of  Galilee.....I am so in awe of this!  Miracles are happening around me all the time and God has brought the most wonderful people through my life.  I AM IN AWE!  and it brings me to my knees, just like it did Peter in that boat...and then it is I saying "Oh Lord, please leave me--I'm too much of a sinner to be around you!"  How can God continue using me in spite of my many downsides and shortcomings.  BUT HE DOES!  Just like He used Peter, who denied him 3 times before he was crucified...just like He used Paul, who had Christians murdered continually....just like He used David, who committed adultery, murder, was prideful & at times neglected his family......the list goes on of people that God used IN SPITE of their failures and downfalls.  I AM IN AWE!  and it brings me to my knees.

Dear friend, God uses YOU too!  In spite of the hurt, the pain, the failures, the outcries, the impatience, the doubt, the fears......God uses YOU!  He created you for a purpose, He had a reason for bringing you into this world, just like he had a reason for bringing Jesus as a small baby into this world.  You are chosen by God, at this time, in this place, in your family, in your community.....for a purpose, a wonderful plan crafted by our Great Creator Father God.  ARE YOU IN AWE?  Does it bring you to your knees?

Israel Ladies Tour 2009

"WOMEN OF THE BIBLE"

Ladies Tour of Israel Nov. 28-Dec. 12, 2009

Ladies!! I am organizing an amazing and incredible womens tour of the Holy Land for the end of November 2009. The cost is approximately $4,000/person (CANADIAN) - that covers all hotels, the bus and driver, entrance fees to all sites, a personal tour guide, a huge buffet breakfast and supper each day, and return airfare from Saskatoon. Signup with a $100.00 deposit which is fully refundable. The complete fees for the tour do need to be paid in full in US funds by the end of September.

You will thoroughly enjoy many wonderful experiences and amazing sites such as:

having an excellent Jewish Tour Guide by the name of Arie Harel, who served many years as a Lt. Colonel in the Israel Defense Force, and doing a fabulous job of making sure that we are comfortable and safe at all times. Looking up into the heights of the Sycamore trees like the one that Zacchaeas (Luke 19:1-10) climbed so many years ago to see Jesus passing by. Visiting the town of Capernaum, a place where Jesus moved to (Matt. 4:12-13), the hometown of the Apostle Peter and the centre for tax collectors and Roman troops (Mark 2:14).




Towards the end of the tour, taking a day trip into the land of Jordan, to visit Petra, one of the wonders of the world...the site of the most recent Indiana Jones movie....walking through the caverns of the city built into the rock. Some also believe that this will be the place of refuge for Christians and Jews, a place they will flee to during the Great Tribulation.....if you've been reading the Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, they write about Petra a lot in their books - one of the references that they use is Rev. 12:14 "But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time." Petra is also the home of the Edomites - descendants of Esau (Genesis 14:6, 36:20-30; Deut. 2:12) and is the most likely place of the city of Sela that is mentioned in Judges 1:36; Isaiah 16:1, 42:11; Obad. 3; 2 Kings 14:7; 2 Chr. 25:12. Petra is in the land of Edom where the Israelites tried to pass through but were not allowed to so, this was before they crossed over the River Jordan and overtook Jericho.




Covering yourself with mud full of minerals before enjoying a very relaxing float in the Dead Sea. Visiting the Ahava Factory, sampling their many samples of creams and lotions. Spending a night at a spa on the shores of the Dead Sea.




The last two nights will be spent in Eilat, the resort city of Israel, on the shores of the Red Sea.....how about taking a sail on the Red Sea or lounging in the sun and relaxing before leaving Israel on the long flight heading home. Eilat, named Ezion-Gaber in the Bible, is the location of where the Israelites last camped before the came into the "wilderness of Zin" (Numbers 33:35,36; Deuteronomy 2:8). It is also the place where the ships of Jehoshaphat were wrecked (1 Kings 22:48). King Solomon also built a navy at Eilat (1 Kings 9:26) and Jehoshaphat built a navy here too (2 Chronicles 20:36). King Solomon also visited Ezion-Gaber (Eilat) in 2 Chronicles 8:17.



Hill of Golgotha, next to a main road traveling into the City of Jerusalem and seeing the sign in the tomb where Jesus is no longer buried, because He rose again and is living in Heaven - preparing an eternal home for us. (Matt. 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19)



Walking through the marketplace in the old city of Jerusalem, taking the same route along the Via Dolorosa that Jesus took so many years ago as he walked by the stores carrying his cross to his death by crucifixion. (Matt. 27, Mark 15)



Walking down the Mount of Olives (Matt. 24:3, and being in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22), with the 2,000 year old Olive trees, seeing where Jesus prayed with his disciples before his crucifixion.



Standing at the Wailing Wall, hearing the prayers and cries of women in many different languages and cultures....watching the people as they come to pray several times a day. Many feel that this is the closest that they can be to God, here at the wall - on the other side of this wall are the grounds where the Temple of Jerusalem stood. In Matthew, we read of Mary & Joseph taking Jesus to the Temple to be dedicated, years later Jesus was in the Temple, and when He died on the cross, the Temple curtain tore from top to bottom - signifying that the people could now go directly to God in their prayers - Jesus was now the High Priest.



A terrifying ride on a camel.....my first experience was one I will never forget. :-)
The town of Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine at a wedding he attended (John 2:1-12).



Walking through the fascinating ruins of Bet'Shean, seeing the marble and mosaic floors of centuries ago....sitting by the pillars that are still standing today. King Saul and Jonathan were killed by the Philistines in the mountains of Gilboa near here and King Saul's body was hung on the walls of Beth-shan (1 Sam. 31). It is an ancient Scythopolis, lies at a main crossroads leading to Jerusalem (across the Jordan Valley).

Taking a jeep ride along the Jordan River, up into the cliffs of the Golan Heights near the Syrian border, overlooking the fertile land of Israel with it's vineyards and many Kibbutz communities, and an opportunity to tour through one of the many wineries in the area. Up on the cliffs, the terrain is so rocky and dry. The Bible talks about the Israelites turning this land into such fertile soil....which they have definitely done.

Taking a calm sail on the Sea of Galilee with Daniel Carmel and his Galilee Worship Boat ministry singing our modern worship praise songs that we sing in English and he translates them into Hebrew, creating beautiful worship CD's. Being on this sea, knowing that Jesus walked on the water here, as well as the Apostle Peter (Matt. 14). Jesus also lit a campfire and cooked fish on it for his disciples (John 21) after He had risen from the dead....wow. What an experience to be here.

Visiting Caesarea, the place where the Apostle Paul (Acts 26) began his missionary journey, standing on the shores of the Meditarranean Sea....seeing the sunset over the sea.



Staying in wonderful hotels such as the above hotel in Tiberias along the shores of the Sea of Galilee and touring around each day in comfort in a bus specially chosen just for us. Jesus never went to Tiberias and in Bible times, the Jews stayed away from here as it was considered unclean.



Standing on the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5) and overlooking the Sea of Galilee across the hillsides of the Judean Hills.



Standing on the height of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea. This was King Herod's fortress that he built in 30BC as a summer home, a refuge and hideaway - it was his mountain castle with all the luxuries of the Roman world. But from 70-73, the Jewish Zealots sought refuge here from the Romans. After a year of building a ramp to overtake this fortress, the Romans broke through the walls and found these 960 Jewish Zealots had committed suicide - they chose to die rather than to fall into the hands of the Romans so they killed themselves...all but a woman with 2 small children survived. To the east, it looks out over the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is 1,400 feet below sea level...Masada is at sea level. It was quite a climb for the few guys and 1 gal from our team that hiked up Masada rather than taking the tramp up.
Seeing the magnificent ruins of the synagogue in Capernaun where Jesus taught and read from the Scriptures. Jesus began his ministry in Capernaun (Matt. 4).



The Garden Tomb where Jesus may have been buried (Matt. 27:57-61) and walking the streets of Nazareth - the hometown of Jesus when he was a child (Matt.2:19-23).



Crossing over the Jordan River - the river that Jesus was baptized in (Matt. 3:13-17) and enjoying the sunrises in Tiberias overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

All of these incredible experiences, as well as many others wonderful sites to see such as the the home area of Queen Jezebel, the hometown of Mary Magdalene, the place where Deborah asked Barak to fight the Canaanites and so much more will all be included in this tour of a lifetime.

Contact me soon by email lisaspics@sasktel.net - deadline is May 25/09 to sign up with your $100.00 deposit.