“Yahweh does speak—now one way, now another—though you may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep overtakes you, Creator Yahweh may whisper in your ear.”
Eagle People … Today’s reading is Job 33:1-33 and 34:1-4. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”
(Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution / Foter)
Even warriors shed tears. And when they do, they often feel as helpless as a deer caught in the headlamps of a vehicle. Tears are a foreig
n thing. When you shed tears, let yourself go. Place your life completely in Yahweh’s mercy. Let him do with you what he wants. This is better than complaining about your circumstances or demanding an audience to state your case.
The strength of which you were once so proud will seem but a small thing when you have experienced the power of brokenness at Yahweh’s feet. You may think it great that you call yourself horse whisperer, but Yahweh knows the language of trees. You may be proud to ride bareback across open fields, but He rides the wings of wind. Can you tame wild horses? He commands the wind and storm. Surely you thought and spoke of things you did not understand, things too wonderful for you to know. Creator Yahweh is above and beyond and exalted in power. In His justice and great righteousness, He does not oppress. You are in the presence of The Almighty. How dare you stand on your feet?
Eagle People … Today’s reading is Job 42:1-6. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”
(Photo taken by Sandy Cathcart at Wiconi Powwow, 2008)
Do you need to silence the mouths of liars? Then, earnestly seek Yahweh. Long for him as one who is crossing a hot desert where there is no water. Let your soul thirst for him. Get close to the earth and read the Sacred Writings. Eat his words. They will be like honey for your soul. Let your soul be satisfied with Yahweh as with the richest of foods. Look up to the heavens and see. Behold his power and his great glory! Lift up your hands and your heart to him. His love is better than life; let it wash over you in cleansing waves. Command your soul to cling to him. Rest in the assurance that his right hand upholds you above your earthly circumstances. Remember him throughout the long watches of the night. Yahweh is your help! Sing in the shadow of his wings. Dance your prayers before him. Rejoice in your Creator! Your rejoicing will silence the mouths of liars. Yahweh. Yahweh. Yahweh.
Eagle People … Today’s reading is Psalm 63. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”
(Photo by Sandy Cathcart of Cobby Shadley, Sacramento, California, 2013)
Are you confident in what you hope for, child? If not, perhaps you are hoping for the wrong thing. Or perhaps your confidence is in the wrong thing. Our confidence is best found in Yahweh, believing that if we had all the facts he has we would be asking for what he gives us. He knows the future. He knows the inside of us. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what our eyes do not see. Our people have long used faith to believe that the universe was formed at Creator Yahweh’s command, believing that what we see was not made out of what was visible.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to leave his family land and travel to a place he knew nothing about, a place that he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
We know we are traveling, like Abraham, toward our inheritance, but we do not know the steps that will lead us there. Remain in faith, dear child. Remain in love. It is not your hard work that will get you to that land. It is Yahweh’s work in you. Rest in him. Move only when he commands. Trust Him. He has earned your trust. He made the stars!
Eagle People … Today’s reading is Hebrews 11:17-40. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”
(Photo found on spacetelescope.org)
Straighten up, child, and set yourself back on the beautiful way. If you repent, Yahweh will restore you so that you may serve him. Forget the former things! Do not dwell on the past. Yahweh is doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? He is making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland to give refreshment to his people, the people he formed for himself. He does this so that we may proclaim his praise.
Do not be afraid; you have been chosen. Yahweh will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground. He will pour out his Spirit on your offspring and his blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. This is a good reason to straighten up and follow the way of beauty.
Eagle People … Today’s reading is Romans 13:11-14. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”
(Photo by artist, photographer: Gina Signor at www.Fineartamerican.com)
Who let the wild donkey go free? Who untied his ropes? Yahweh gave him the vast wastelands as his home. He roams the earth free from restraint. He laughs at the commotion in the 
town; he does not heed or even hear a driver’s shout. He ranges the hills for his pasture with not one fence to hold him in. He searches for any green thing and Yahweh provides for all his needs.
Child do you think you are any less than the wild donkey? Yahweh is preparing a place for you! And even now, he provides for all your soul’s needs. Be content in whatever circumstances you find yourself in. Thank him for the gift of breath. Focus on all good things he has blessed you with and let your heart delight in his unfailing love. Then let this love flow through you to everyone you meet and never give up asking the question, “How can love reign in this place?”
Eagle People … Today’s reading is Romans 13:8-10. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”
(BLM Photo of wild burros)
Praise Yahweh with all of your heart! Stand beneath the night sky with your arms lifted to heaven and sing his praise. Bow down to the eart
h and savor his sweetness. Dance your prayers before him. For his love and his faithfulness are unfailing. His glory beyond understanding.
Our people should have been the first to recognize Yahweh as Creator, this Jesus who laid down his life for us. We saw him in the sunrise over the Sacred Mountain. We heard him in the wapiti’s bugle, and we watched him dance in the flight of night hawks.
Stand still and listen. Yahweh’s voice is heard in all the earth! We live and move and have our being in him. Such knowledge is enough to make your feet move to the drum of his heartbeat. What problems do we have that he cannot fix? What enemies can he not defeat? Praise Yahweh for he will not abandon the works of his hands.
Eagle People … Today’s reading is Psalm 139:1-12. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”
(Photo by Sandy Cathcart of Elisa Peacock, Sacrament, California, 2013)
Child, have you considered what it means to have faith? Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. It
has long been easy for us to believe by faith that everything we see and don’t see was formed at Creator Yahweh’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what is visible.
This is the same, Yahweh, who loads the clouds with water and weeps upon the earth. At his direction they swirl and do whatever he commands, sometimes bringing justice; other times showing his great love as he waters the face of the earth.
By faith we learn to trust him, so that when he answers our prayers differently than what we hoped, we understand by faith that what we receive is what we would have asked for if we knew as much as he does about the situation. This is the kind of faith that will carry us through the path of sorrow and onto the beauty way.
Eagle People … Today’s reading is Hebrews 11:1-16. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”
(Photo by Sandy Cathcart of Aaron Gentry and Martha Manzo)
There are many voices, child. Be careful which ones your ears take in. I’ve heard it said that we Natives should not believe in Jesus, because in so doing we will give the white man the satisfaction of thinking he has won. This same voice cautions to not allow our children to be absorbed in religions. I have much to say about this, but I will keep my words few.
First of all, to think that Jesus belongs to the white man is in error. Read the Sacred Writings. You will see this is no white man’s God. This is Yahweh, Creator, the One we have been worshipping all along. Don’t allow the wrong doing of any man or woman to keep you from the truth. Yahweh has given us his words, which are rich to live by and good for correction. Sit close to the earth and absorb his words into your soul.
My people are fully Native and fully Christian, but do not confuse that with white traditions. We use our regalia, language, dancing, and customs in our worship of Creator, and in doing so, we have felt Creator Yahweh’s pleasure. These practices are bringing much honor to our people and restoring our dignity.
We welcome our white friends to worship with us, not in a contest of who will win or lose, but as members of one Tribe, many nations coming together. Eagle People … Today’s reading is Galatians 3:23-29. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”
(Photo of Ed LaRose carrying cross in Jerusalem with Ghostdancer “Buttons” Shadley behind.)
Have you lost sight of the goal, child? Has the enemy of our souls convinced you that such a prize is unreachable? Cha-aat! Tell him to stand back! All you need is one glimpse of Yahweh’s face. He rides on the wings of the wind, coming from that far off place to meet with you. Listen! The thunder of his voice rings through the heavens! He will draw you out of the water. He will deliver you from certain death and set you on your feet. Earth will become solid and strong beneath your feet until you borrow its strength and it becomes your own. Wait for Yahweh. He will come. Indeed, he is already here, right in the depths of your heart. Let his deep, unquenchable love fill every part of you, restoring your soul and replacing despair with hope. Yahweh. Yahweh. Yahweh. Let his whispered command fill your ears, “Stand firm I AM with you.”
Eagle People … Today’s reading is Psalm 18:1-19. Pleya gi “Go with Blessings.”
(Photo of intense aurora display over Saltfjellet, located under the artic circle in Nordland, Norway by Tommy Eliassen: www.tommyeliassen.com)