Posted: 12/02/2007 at 4:17pm | IP Logged

A good friend of mine recommended a book to me recently. I picked up a copy and read it and I have to say that it is a simply wonderful book that delves into this very topic.  I was so blessed!

The Shack - by William P Young
www.theshackbook.com

You can pick up a copy on Amazon.com as well as through Barnes and Nobles... simply, IMHO, a must read!

blessings,
jule

Posted: 12/04/2007 at 4:47am | IP Logged

Hey, the story sounds really great. I can't believe those readers were in tears by page 100 

Thanks for sharing Julie. 

Think I will ask my parents to offer me this book for Christmas  

Posted: 12/04/2007 at 6:45am | IP Logged

Hey Eric!

You won't be disappointed. I am on my second (slower) reading. I got so immeshed in the book on the first reading I read it in one sitting on Thanksgiving holiday. I find myself reflecting on details as it really makes you think 'outside the box'.

Enjoy your posts here.. thanks for being so cool!
~jule~

Posted: 10/05/2008 at 10:19am | IP Logged

hey Leslie... good hearing from you!  My future son-in-law read this whole book on his way up to fishing in Alaska back in May... then gave it away to the person he was seated with when he got off the plane.... it impacted him greatly... Wal-mart has it in paperback for $10.43 I believe. I need to pick up another copy... my daughters have my copy now.... it really does take God out of the Box for sure.... which He is anyway... and even when bad things happen, God works them all together for good.... because He is good.... and He loves up beyond anything we can comprehend....  awhile back God gave me a very real revelation of just how BIG He is.... I 'saw' his hands cupped togegther and within his cupped hands sat our whole UNIVERSE!!! like the size of a blue robin's egg....  it was incredibly astounding to get a finite minds perspective in picture form of the true magnitude of how really big 'Papa' is.... I reflect back on that revelation quite a bit these days with things being as they are... and I just have an immediate peace about the sovereignty and greatness of overall profoundness of our God.... All glory to His Name forever!

ps: I really was dealt with by the chapter where judgment of God was addressed.... how many times have 'i' judged God from my finite worm existance..... it was very convicting and brought me a lot of forgiveness and deliverance too! Awesome book as far as I am concerned and MUST READING!!

love you lady! hope all is well with you.... lata!

Posted: 10/06/2008 at 5:26am | IP Logged

Greetings to you, Julie. Thanks for the affection and back at ya.

Jess, if I remember correctly, you are young in the Lord. May I suggest you go to a web site "plumblineministries.com" and click on the "Blessings" icon. Each day (M-F) there will be a blessing spoken to your spirit. It will take about 3 minutes. Try and sit quietly and allow your spirit to listen to the blessing. The blessing is for your spirit, not your soul or your body. Doing this will nurture/build/mature your spirit, which is the part of you that communicates/interfaces with God. The larger  your spirit, the more you can know Him. Your spirit is supposed to be leading your person (body/soul/spirit). The man who speaks the blesssing (Arthur Burk) says that we know how to minister to our bodies and souls, which is the size of a sumo wrestler, but our spirit is the size of a stick man. Your spirit should be the sumo wrestler and your souland body in alignment behind your spirit. We're supposed to be living out of our spirits, not our wounded, screwed up souls that often operate out of the lies we believed as children. But, that's an entire afternoon by itself. Just consider going to the above site, sit quietly and listen. Sometimes I'll listen 2-3 times. Do that for a month and get back to me and tell me what you are sensing. Also, consider asking daily for God's knowledge, wisdom, understanding and discernment. Ask God for the Gift of wisdom to make you wise. He will give it because he is a good God and and he's very fond of you. (Read The Shack and you'll understand that part.) I know that in the past you might have perceived me as harsh towards you, but I really am a nice lady. I just don't brook a lot of nonsense, am a mother of two teen daughters and am 56 years old. (Had them at 39 and 42 years of age.) Plus, I've been praying for God's knowledge, wisdom, understanding and discernment for about 30 years. I know I have wisdom because I've asked for it and spent years in the Word, which also promises to make you wise, and I have a strong discerner.  Hopefully that doesn't sound arrogant because it's not my intent. I have also endeavored to be a "mother of Israel"/older sister in the family attempting to raise the younger ones in the Family. Have a lovely day. Do what God has set before you with your best efforts and listen to your mother. She knows you best because she's known you the longest--you started your life under her heart. have a good day and how's school?

Posted: 10/07/2008 at 2:06am | IP Logged

Funny thing...

I haven't felt led to read any books, other than the bible, for quite some time, but on coming to the library this morning to use the internet as usual, there on the bookstand at the entrance, right in front of me, was "The Shack".  I Haven't noticed it there before.  Well anyway, I've got it to read now.

Love Mandy

Posted: 10/08/2008 at 2:57am | IP Logged

I read the book yesterday.  Wow!!!

I love the way Papa is portrayed.  Such a relief from so much heavy stuff that's commonly attributed to our Father.  There are so many different facets in this story though, that its gona take a while to digest it all.

It seems suitable to give to non-believers as well.  A way of introducing them to the reality in an easy to follow way.  It sounds like there will be a film to follow too.

Posted: 10/08/2008 at 12:03pm | IP Logged

Julie, I don't know what you mean by being Plumblined. I think that might be different from Arthur Burk and his teachings.

Mandy, I'm delighted you liked The Shack. I think it's worthy of several readings in order to absorb all the content it contains.

Jess, I'm glad you like the Blessings from Arthur Burk. There's an archive that you can check out and linger in AFTER you've done your studying. If God is telling you to study, then you'd better because you don't blow God off and get away with it. It will eventually come back and bite you. Plus, if you eat your spinach first and save dessert for last, it builds character into you and that's a very good thing. God holds good character in very high esteem. As Arthur and his crew say, "Now, go be dangerous!"

Posted: 10/13/2008 at 2:36am | IP Logged

I heard about this book just recently, I heard someone mention it... but have no clue what it is about. Sounds interesting.

Posted: 10/25/2008 at 10:38pm | IP Logged

Okay, Alicia, Mandy and Jess, have you gals opened the book and begun to read The Shack? If not, you're missing something totally cool that will greatly touch your hearts!

Posted: 10/27/2008 at 3:06am | IP Logged

Hi,

I lent the book to my mother and my sister who are both not-yet-believers.  My mother, who is very Phariseeical in her attitudes, found it quite perplexing, trying to understand the general plot rather than the message of God's nature therein.  But at least she did read it and didn't throw it back at me!  My sister was very taken with it and has even thought about getting a copy for a workmate of hers who is struggling with grief after tragically losing the love of her life last year.

Even though they may not be able to clearly express their impressions of the book, I take encouragement that at least a picture of the true nature of God will have tucked itself away in their minds.

Love Mandy

Posted: 01/26/2009 at 10:26pm | IP Logged

i have not read the book, but have heard wonderful things about it. Have seen some negative things shared about it as well, mostly from a religious mindset. not saying anyone here is doing so, but we need search our heart in the matter before the Lord and get in the scriptures and it is plain to see the `mother-side', female side of God. Throughout the old, in His Names and in the gospels through Jesus Who was anointed of Holy Spirit, empowerd of Holy Spirit, full of the Holy Spirit. Just for one example is : Matt.23:37 portion of which says.."how I would have gathered your children even as a hen does her chicks under her wings..."

one can look up the Name El-Shaddai and find meaning

blessings,

Posted: 01/27/2009 at 8:04pm | IP Logged

I wrote a long post, but thought better of it, since this is such a hot topic.

I will say this though, I have to agree with Lisa and Anita.

When we try to be open minded.....well, that teeters on the edge of new age thinking. I am not closed minded, I am just bible minded and that book in no way ( IMHO) lines up with the Word of God, nor His sovereignty, his character.

Posted: 01/27/2009 at 8:58pm | IP Logged

Julie, I just watched the 700 Club interview with the author of The Shack. Thanks for putting it on OH. I thought The Shack was wonderful. There are a lot of people getting agitated about this book and, interestingly, most have not read the book. "OMG! How can you say that God is a wonderful black women that grooves to cool, contemporary music! You heretic! Shame on you! Yada, yada, yada." You've been more than gracious adding various web sites approving the book. It is controversial and there are going to be folks that just aren't going to go for it and that's fine. There are bunches of other folks that read it and get blown away with the loveliness of God and the most excellent messages in the book.

Lisa, there are some fabulous Christian books that are fiction that you're missing out on. You could try "The Martyr's Song" or "When Crickets Cry." How very narrow to not read good fiction. That's like saying it's wicked to play cards or dance. Yikes! Surely Jesus wouldn't do those things. What? You mean he drank wine at a wedding? No, never! Not my Jesus because that wouldn't be biblical...

Posted: 01/27/2009 at 9:04pm | IP Logged

I know this is a very controversial topic, but to be fair, here is another interesting word about the book

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQVztUhmdAA&feature=relat ed

another view ( by Chuck Colson)

http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=7830

Just some points to ponder

Posted: 01/27/2009 at 9:25pm | IP Logged

Leslie you said " "OMG! How can you say that God is a wonderful black women that grooves to cool, contemporary music! You heretic! Shame on you! Yada, yada, yada."

First of all I really don't like OMG ( OH MY GOD). Is that not taking the Lord's name in vain? One may call that nit picking, but is  pointing out a commandment nitpicking?

Too mock anyone that feels that portraying the creator of the Uninverse as "wonderful black women that grooves to cool, contemporary music!".......I'm sorry but that seems so disrespectful.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

He's not the "big guy upstairs"........He is God Almighty and completely deserving of our complete respect and worship.

Has this subject come to the point that sarcasm is beginning to come out and is sarcasm a fruit of the Spirit? Is this what that book truly brings out?

I for one, love the 700 club.......that doesn't mean for one second that I have to believe everything said there. I respect that minsitry completely.

But my respect for a ministry is completely different than my deep respect for our Father.. I respect every word that proceeds out of HIS mouth, more than anything else

Just because one does not agree with the content of a fiction book , it should not cause division amongst the brethren. If it does, then I would say there is someing hinky about the book, not the brethren......not if we all believe the same bible, the same One True God.

There is only one who would like to see division among the brethren ( because a house divided will fall) and that  is the enemy of our souls.

THink about it.........is defending a book written by a man worth sarcasm toward brothers and sisters.

God's Word is worth defending, but even then we are told how to do and still be an example of Christ Jesus.

Posted: 01/27/2009 at 9:31pm | IP Logged

Many have taken the time to listen to pro Shack commentaries. Please listen to this and hear this man out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZWaF57eIIg&feature=relat ed

Posted: 01/27/2009 at 9:59pm | IP Logged

Julie, the article you posted by Wayne Jacobson is disturbing.  If one skimmed over the message and substitued any other issue in there, as well as the intended one, the Shack book, the message I get is "How dare you test something for Truth!!"  That is very unsettling to me when I am mocked for obeying God when He tells us to use discernment...that is even a gift of God, why does this author of that article not want to encourage it?

He wrote:  "What do I think?  I tire of the self-appointed doctrine police, especially when they toss around false accusations like "new age conspiracy", "counterfeit Jesus" or "heresy" to promote fear in people as a way of advancing their own agenda." 

--->Self appointed doctrine police?  Interesting.  I actually get offended when God is misrepresented, while this author appears to suggest that there is no absolute truth to who God is.  And I will not be silent while the majority receive these distorted views of God.

Posted: 01/28/2009 at 2:35am | IP Logged

There is a dilemma, and that is to reconcile the Almighty God we've come to see in the scriptures, especially from the Old Testament writings, and the God who became a man and stooped down into our humanity in order to reach us. 

Having already welcomed Jesus into my heart in order to heal some very painful and intense wounding, I can say that the image of God portrayed in "The Shack" is very helpful in inspiring this "welcoming".  In order to let him in to deep wounding, as is the case with the man in the story, you need to be able to trust him.  When you have an image of God as an Almighty stick-wielder, then trusting him with the fragility of your broken heart is just about impossible.  A revelation of his gentleness and complete understanding of your humanity is essential.  The book does a lot to bring this revelation.

There still remains, however, the image of God as Almighty which necessitates reverence.  The book does not tackle this matter, and has not set out to do so.  It is a book which sets out to help those who have a poor image of God, to come closer to him and receive his tender love to heal their broken hearts.

We all need greater revelation of Him.  We all need to know Him better.  Many, including myself, are being surprised and delighted, by what we're discovering, as old mindests are demolished and replaced with the actual reality of God's nature, which really does bind up the broken-hearted and set us free!

Love Mandy

Posted: 01/28/2009 at 4:55am | IP Logged

The fear (reverence) of God is a good thing, but if the fear actually keeps you away from him then you're in trouble.  That's what the book seeks to help with.

I've seen this in ministry, where a person who has been abused by men or father figures cannot bear to be in the same room as a man.  To put an man, however godly they may be, into minister to that person is just not going to help at all, in fact it could well cause more problems.  The person is going to clam up or run a mile.  I can relate to this in my own life.  I have had trouble opening up to alpha male type godly men, due to previous experiences in my life.  The way I've seen this dealt with it is to put a godly woman with the person, so they can learn to trust God in a way that's safe to them, and to which they are receptive, first before introducing the male element later.

This is what the book demonstrates for us.  God, in his perfect wisdom, overcomes the obstacle the man has about Him as a father figure, and gets him to trust him in a way that he is able, as a motherly figure, before then coming to him as a fatherly figure later on, when he could relate to him in that way.  Through this the man's incorrect image of God was healed in some measure.

Posted: 01/28/2009 at 6:59am | IP Logged

I admit I was sarcastic and some of my comments weren't appropriate. Actually, I don't say "oh my God" in conversations. I stand corrected on that account. I do find it tedious when folks declare heresy when they haven't even bothered to read something. That's happened on past threads where someone will throw their opinion in when they haven't even bothered to read the thread. What's up with that? Regarding not reading Christian fiction, I do find that narrow and limiting. There is much good Christian fiction out there. There's also a lot of "anemic milk" too.  Lis, what did you read? Only the Bible or perhaps only nonfiction (biographies, autobiographies, National Geographic)? In the 80s some folks would declare that they would not read anything other than the Bible because it had all the answers they needed. They usually said it with puffed out chest and were usually religiously admant on their points of doctrine. That kind of attitude is really going to minister to a nonbeliever, isn't it? I knew some folks from a denomination that wouldn't allow jewelry except wedding rings and watches. Honey, I'm telling you these women more than made up for no jewelry by wearing these heavy duty jeweled rings and watches! You could usually spot them because they had mounds of hair on top of their heads, were plain as could be but had serious rings and watches on. Lis, I'm not intimating that you were pious and self righteous in your comment. I can see where you might have hesitations about reading fiction when you were brought up otherwise. I encourage you to consider carefully venturing out with Holy Spirit's direction.

Sometimes I get tired of pious pontifications on OH. I believe that folks need to learn how to hear God's instructions for themselves and allow others to hear what God is telling them. I also get tired of self appointed church Internet monitors that decide they've got a mission from God to determine what is right and true and what is heresy. Please notice that most of the folks that are "anti-The Shack" are not spirit filled believers. They're saved evangelicals whose eyes have not been fully opened to all that God has available. They don't believe in God healing folks today, speaking in tongues, God speaking to folks personally, God being absolutely crazy about them, and/or having deep, heart-felt relationships with God. Yes, they bring good things to the table, but they are not fully filled with God's Spirit--and I'm not going to argue about what that means. If you have it, you know what you have. If you don't have it, then you'll want to argue that you do have it but your life in God is in black and white when it could be in technicolor. (That's how I describe being Spirit filled.) Why do folks get so cranky about being Spirit filled when they aren't?

Mandy, I believe you hit the spot with your last two postings. We love Aslan, don't we? Well, God's not a lion, is He? Folks thrilled to Pilgrim's Progress, didn't they? How about stuff by Calvin Miller? They were symbolic. I guess we shouldn't even discuss Lord of the Rings, should we? Going back to The Shack, I loved the Trinity and how they were presented especially around the dinner table. I wanted to go to a shack and hang out with them for at least a month! Mandy, if you have access to a library, you might want to consider finding Ted Dekker's early books (Blessed Child, Martyr's Song and two others in his early writings.) His later books get to intense with evil so be aware. There's also another wonderful book titled "When Crickets Cry."

For those that are offended, ask God why you're feeling so cranky and then deal with it. Mix my sarcasm with all the pious platitudes and it will be negated. I'll repent later. 

Posted: 01/28/2009 at 7:16am | IP Logged

Hi Leslie,

I too loved the stuff around the dinner table, especially the bit where Mack bowed his head to say grace and the others (the Trinity) had already started eating.  It just made me laugh so much at myself.  It broke through some stuffy spiritless attitudes I've taken onboard.  I loved the bit where they were laughing hysterically when Jesus dropped the bowl of food on the floor.  It just highlighted wonderfully the difference in our way of dealing with mishaps. 

I saw the book here on the shelf again in the library today, so I've just got it to read again.  I'm sure there'll be lots of bits I missed the first time around which will grab me this time.

I'm in the library at the moment and have just asked about the other books you mention.  They don't have them here, but I'm told that after April they may be able to get them for me from other libraries (something about budgets).

Love Mandy

Posted: 01/28/2009 at 8:04am | IP Logged

Well, guys, this Spirit filled Christian here has no problem with works of fiction. I am NOT religious, I just plain love the Lord.

The fear of the Lord is not being afraid of HIm, that is not what that means at all. It's an overpowering humble reverance of the Almighty.

There truly is no religious spirit here.

What I see as I have gone and done a lot of reading is folks being sucked into this as good because it speaks to the "flesh"

No one is to beat ANYONE over the head with the Bible and make our Abba Father out as an angry God. God is love, that is not at issue here.

What I see is people loving the God portrayed in this book because He is lining up with them, rather than we lining up with Him.

Just my opinion, which really counts for little and I know that no one who likes the book will be judged for that. It's one of those pesky veiwpoints we simply disagree on.

WE just must beware of watering down the Word in order to please the flesh and make it ( the flesh) "feel" better...........Does that make any sense?

We have to questions like, does this in any way "Humanize" God, who is Spirit?( The Almighty is not flesh and blood, He created flesh and blood.) Does this make our Father "user" friendly instead of portraying Him as who He really is according to the Word of God. Does this in any way mock God?

I have absolutely nothing against the author of this book. He genuinly believes that what he wrote is an innocent work of fiction.

Does anyone truly believe that deception will be completely obvious?

Okay, guys, I will say no more. A book is not worth strife among the brethren. I truly am sorry I riled anyone. I should have just kept quiet.

God Bless

love, Sandy

Posted: 01/28/2009 at 8:31am | IP Logged

Sandy, I don't think you riled anyone. I appreciate your viewpoint and graciously agree that you have every right to it and, no, I don't think you had to be quiet about. I think healthy and vigorous discussion is good. I haven't posted in quite a long time and am usually the bomb thrower. I probably riled more folks than you did. I'm sure I did with my rant. BTW, my teenaged daughters told me that OMG can be Oh my God or Oh my gosh. So, don't give up posting, join the fray and let's all be real.

Mandy, can you put a "Hold" on the books and receive them when they arrive? I guess you live in a small town. We're in Kansas City and there are many libraries we can get books from. We order them and then get an email when they've arrived from other libraries. We can do it all on the Internet which is totally cool. We are reading machines in this household! I'm gonna have to dig out my copy of The Shack and re-read it when I'm finished with "Blessed Child." Have a good day!  I just remembered that I got saved from reading a "heathen book" by Caldwell Taylor. It was title "Dialogues with the Devil" and it was letters between Michael the Archangel and Satan. Caldwell Taylor was/is a Catholic and has screwy religious beliefs but, being a Catholic, I was exposed to God stuff enough that I understood what she was writing. God moved in me and it was this book that convicted me and I got saved through a neighbor's ministry. Interestingly, Madelaine Murray O'Hare's son, who is now a Christian, was also saved from reading a Caldwell book. So, you never know what God will use to bring someone to Himself.

Posted: 01/28/2009 at 11:25am | IP Logged

LOL ... I am thrilled with the dialogue going on over this book!  I think it is wonderful and shows exactly where each one is in their walk with Jesus Christ!

The only thing that I claim to know for myself is this:  Jesus Christ and HIM CRUCIFIED. (I Cor 2:2 "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.")

For those of you NOT led to read The Shack, OBEY THE LORD.

For those of you who have read and will read The Shack, I pray that the Lord will bless you and keep you according to Jude 1:24 and  in the One Who alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life ... for as the word says, you have no need that any 'man' should teach you but that His Holy Spirit teaches you and leads you in to all Truth. (1 John 1:27: "As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit-just as it has taught you, remain in him.")

For those of you who are judging me in my liberty, I pray that the Lord forgive you and grant you great mercy and grace and that He would fill you with His Spirit in greater measure and fullness. For we each see through a glass dimly and we only know in part and see in part at this time ... and I bless you for following the convictions and leading of Holy Spirit in your hearts ... and I pray that you would allow others to follow that same leading for themselves WITHOUT JUDGING them by YOUR CONVICTIONS.

God is able just as his word says in: Jude 1:24-25: "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen!

I John 4:1-3: "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

The One IN US is greater than the one who is in the world.. and God is able to keep each of us from falling and present us FAULTLESS and with GREAT JOY before our Father - John 17:15 "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."

Yes Lord... do this... make it so!!  Keep us in the One who is the Truth: Jesus Christ!

Posted: 01/29/2009 at 4:44am | IP Logged

Thank you for those words of balance Julie.

Part way through reading "The Shack" again, and I'm seeing this time how it's like reading a parable, or several parables, which help bring the reality into focus.  I've just re-read the bit where the man and the Holy Spirit are in the garden, clearing the ground ready for the new seed to be planted.  The Holy Spirit has asked the man to help pull up the roots so they wont choke the new seed.  While he's doing this the man is struggling to deal with the deepest pain in his heart and the underlying beliefs feeding that pain, whilst at the same time uprooting some deeply entrenched roots.  Very clever!

Posted: 01/29/2009 at 6:42am | IP Logged

Sorry to stop mid-flow but I had to go something else.

This uprooting made me think of Anita's reference to tendrils that don't want to let go on another thread.  It also made me think of what Kathy has referred to as "stinkin-thinkin" on another thread.  It's process we're all in I guess.  The book just serves to draw the picture in commonly experienced terms.

Just like Jesus, teaching the disciples in parables.  He made reference to things within the human experience in order to shed light on spiritual truths.  He used the examples of land-owners, farmers and gardeners as ways of expressing truths of the kingdom of God, as well as many other examples.  In fact he was God made flesh himself.  God made himself into flesh in order to bring himself into the human experience, so we could relate to him and be one with him.

And just like then, when the parables were shared, it was intended for those who had/have ears to hear.  Not everyone will be able to hear the same thing at the same time.  There are things I've walked away from in the past, because they just don't sit right with me, that I've come back to a couple of years later, after some things have been sorted in my heart, and they speak very clearly and helpfully to me.  So sometimes it's just a matter of timing.  We're all in the weeding and uprooting process, some at different stages than others. 

No red flags have come up for me in reading the book.  I have only been blessed by it.  As a backup for my own discernment in this, as well as other things raised here on OH, (being a spiritual adolescent who still at times is prone to getting it wrong), I tend to look at what others are saying.  I've been here 6 months now, and there are some I'm coming to recognize as the elders of the family here and I tend to take note of their views.  No red flags there either from what's been posted, in fact, if I remember rightly, a hearty recommendation from Kriston, who I would expect to be down on it like a ton of bricks if there was anything dodgy in it.

So, I think it's been said already, if you feel drawn to read "The Shack" be blessed.  If you don't, then be blessed too.  God can speak to us through a multitude of ways, this is only one.

Love Mandy

Posted: 01/29/2009 at 6:55am | IP Logged

Leslie,

I guess this would be classed a small town by US standards - about 60,000 people.  Anyway, I'm not bothered at the moment, I've got loads to keep me occupied.

I was thinking upon your comment about wanting to spand at least a month at the shack yourself, and it evoked the same feeling in me when I first read it.  But on pondering this thought last night, it dawned on me that we can be there any time we want, because it's within us.  We can have this experience 24/7 365 days a year!  That was one of the things pointed out further on in the book, if I remember rightly.  It got me talking to Jesus in a different way anyway, giving me more security.

Love Mandy

Posted: 01/29/2009 at 4:32pm | IP Logged

right on girls.. a long time back the Lord let me know that my desire to 'build a huge Swiss Family Robinson type of tree house in the back yard of my 'mansion' in heaven is a GO! In fact, He provided me a good dream where I saw him (the carpenter) and me sawing logs and in process of building.. We were having such a grand ole time... and there was a beautiful creek right by the huge oak tree  that we were buidling up in.  We were laughing and carrying on in our workings and it was absolutely profound to me back then and gets me through so many BAD times down here now...

so allow me to extend the invitation girls.. any of you want to come help me and Jesus build my huge swiss family robinson type of tree house in the back yard of my mansion in heaven? cause you are all welcome! it'll be a very awesome time of fun and fellowship.... woo hoo!!

What I almost wouldn't give for a true "Shack" experience with my Father, my BBJ (Big Brother Jesus) and Holy Spirit down here now! Uh-huh... I'm trackin with ya!  ((( Hugs )))

Posted: 01/30/2009 at 1:14am | IP Logged

I'd be up for that Julie!  The idea has appealed to me a lot too.  I don't know why I'm so drawn towards tree houses and log cabins in woods?  The closest I've got to it is living in a tent up on the mountain overlooking the town here.  It was one of those wild dreams that I really wanted to experience, so not having anywhere else to live at the time, I did it.  For 5 months I lived up on the top of the mountain, just me & the Trinity.  It was so fab!  It wasn't quite as luxurious as "The Shack" but I loved being that close to nature and discovering alternative ways of doing stuff.

Love Mandy

Posted: 01/30/2009 at 9:03am | IP Logged

Me with ya Sister Jules-spent ALL my time at "the tree" at Disneyland when we took our kids there years ago,,,stood up at the top and sang to JESUS,,,it was the best & only place I wanted to be-wanted to stay as I remember the 'freedom & joy" within me 'bubbling out'. I will bring JOY with me when I come join ya at the tree,,,LOL! Kinda like the prayin' kids, "See You At The Pole"! OH, and the scripture came alive to me at that time, "I am YOUR 'oak of rigteousness', LORD, YOUR planting for he display of YOUR GLORY." GOD IS SO GOOD-"OH, GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD, AND HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER." Love you ALL-prayin' & decreein' & rejoicin'-shouting to YOU ABBA FATHER GOD with ONE voice of triumph & praise,,,\o/\o/\o/

Posted: 01/30/2009 at 12:03pm | IP Logged

ok then girls! ... meet you in heaven, my back yard .. to build my tree house and have some great fun and fellowship!!

your brave Mandy.. campin on a hill... lol.. I love camping... and all that out doors stuff.... wish I could do more of it... lol