Ghostdancer Shadley

Don’t forget warriors, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with our Great Chief and Captain. And the Word was our Great Chief and Captain. He was with our Great Chief and Captain in the beginning. Through him (Creator Yahweh) all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. This Word, this Creator Yahweh is the One our people have long known as Creator. But now we can know him, not only as Creator of all things that we see and do not see, but also as the One who creates new life within our own souls. Now we can know him, not only as The Great Spirit, who is out there somewhere, far beyond us, or someone we meet on the Sacred Mountain of vision quests, but also as The Spirit in whom we live and move and have our being.

Now we can know him, not only as The Spirit who indwells all things, but also as The Holy Spirit who dwells right inside of us. He is the great I Am. He rings out through time, through eternity, through past and future, forever. “I Am”—The Great Spirit, Creator, of whom our forefathers caught a glimpse. “I Am” Creator Yahweh. Messiah. Redeemer.

Eagle People … Today’s reading is John 1:9-14. Pleya gi. “Go with Blessings.”

Photo by Sandy Cathcart at the Restoration Powwow, Chiloquin, Oregon, 2014)

Warriors, this is the message of walking in beauty, of walking the Spirit Way. Creator Yahweh is Light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the Light, as he is in the Light, we can share the pipe and have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all wrong doing. If we claim we have never walked the way of darkness and say we have done no wrong, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our weaknesses and wrong doings, then He is faithful and just and will forgive us our way of error and purify us from all unrighteousness.

My dear children, this is what some people call sin. We Natives call it walking in darkness. Do not walk in darkness. But if anybody does walk in darkness, and at times we all will, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of all the tribes of the world.

Eagle People … Today’s reading is John 1:1-8. Pleya gi. “Go with Blessings.”

Photo by Sandy Cathcart at the Restoration Powwow, Chiloquin, Oregon, 2014)

Walk the Spirit Way, warriors, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For these two are in opposition to one another. The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. Creator Yahweh does not intend that we do whatever we want. Instead, we are to listen for Creator Yahweh’s voice before we take each step.

Whoever walks the Flesh Way will walk into destruction. Whoever walks the Spirit Way will walk into eternal life. Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work Creator Yahweh has given you, and then sink yourself into that. When we walk in the Spirit Way our hearts are filled with love for our Great Chief and Captain and love for others.

So then, while we have opportunity let us do good to all people and especially those who walk the Spirit Way with us. And let us not lose heart in doing good, for at just the right time we will soar with eagles!

Eagle People … Today’s reading is Galatians 5:22-26. Pleya gi. “Go with Blessings.”

(Photo by Sandy Cathcart at the Restoration Powwow, Chiloquin, Oregon, 2014)

Yesterday we talked about the need for rest. In “Streams in the Desert,” John Ruskin talks about the music of heaven and how our lives are a part of Creator Yahweh’s song. He calls it the melody of our life and explains that the music is separated here and there by rests. “During those rests,” Ruskin says, “we foolishly believe we have come to the end of the song.” Creator Yahweh often forces these times of rest through sickness, disappointed plans, and frustrated efforts.

Perhaps it’s because of being Native American, but I truly grieve when the drum beat of heaven falls silent, especially when it is a sudden and unexpected pause. Yet how my heart sings when the silence is broken at just the right time by a skillful flute player. It is then I am assured that the rest is part of the making of the music. The pause sets everything in place for the next note.

In times like these it is good to remember that Creator Yahweh does not write the music of our lives without a plan, and times of rest are part of that wondrous plan.”

…Eagle People … Today’s reading is Psalm 91. Pleya gi. “Go with Blessings.”

(Photo by Sandy Cathcart at the Restoration Powwow, Chiloquin, Oregon, 2014)

Warriors, are you staring into darkness so deep that you fear to take a step forward? “Be strong!” your Great Chief and Captain calls, “Be of good courage.” This is a time to grit your teeth and steady your heart, to slow it to the beat of a sleeping man. You can only do this by calling on Creator Yahweh to give you peace and to give you strength. As you stare into a wall of darkness where you must soon tread, there is no light to illuminate the path, nothing to mark the treacherous boundaries you know exist. One wrong step and all is lost. Discouragement slashes its sharp edge into your heart.

“Have I not commanded you?” Creator Yahweh’s voice calls out. “Be strong!”

It does not matter how weak you feel, or how foolish, your Captain and Chief has gone before; he knows the way. Listen for the echo of His voice as he leads you, not around this valley of darkness, but directly through it, like an arrow flying straight and true.

Eagle People … Today’s reading is Joshua 1:1-6.. Pleya gi. “Go with Blessings.”

(Photo by Sandy Cathcart of Cobby Shadley at Arrows of Faith Gathering, Chiloquin, Oregon, 2014)