Review: Can You Hear Me? Tuning in to the God Who Speaks - author Brad Jersak

Can You Hear Me?
is a combination of biblical and historical research, real life experiences, and thirty-three inspiring exercises on "listening prayer." 

The premise is that God speaks to His children far more frequently and naturally than they might expect. Tuning in to the voice of God begins by discovering how well we already hear Him and deepens with practice as we step into prayerful dialogue. 

God desires to transform our prayers into intimate conversations -- real meetings with a living Friend. Readers will become aware that encounters with God are more simple, accessible, and interactive than they ever dreamed.
-Goodreads 

Can You Hear Me? Tuning In To the God Who Speaks
author: Dr. Brad Jersak 
publisher: Fresh Wind Press [Canada] 2003
3rd edition May 2013 

God desires to transform our prayers into intimate conversations, real meetings with a Living Friend. In this book, Dr. Jersak lays out the biblical foundation for the practice of listening prayer. 

CAN YOU HEAR ME? combines solid research, inspiring testimonies, and 33 spiritual exercises–all to help us hear God more clearly. Inside Can You Hear Me?: 

- Learn the simplicity of listening prayer and connect with God deeply and personally. 

- Experience personal meeting places in different rooms of your heart, in God’s Word, and in your world, that you can access freely whenever you need to meet with Jesus. 

- Identify and overcome blocks to connecting intimately with God. Stop the silence! 

- Apply listening prayer in decision-making, parenting, in your local church, and for inner healing. 

- Jesus alone is the wonderful counsellor who delights to answer your questions. 

- Test and Distinguish between God’s voice and all those competing voices.

A life changing book.
Learning to tune in to the God Who speaks...

13 chapters divided into 3 sections include:

I. The Simplicity of Listening Prayer
1. My Sheep Hear My Voice
2. Awakened Hearts: How we hear and see God 
3. God, is that really you? 
4. Was that just my imagination?
II. Encountering God: The Meeting Place of Your Heart
5. The Meeting Place 
6. Meeting God to intercede
7. Overcoming Blocks to Meeting God
III. The Life of Listening Prayer
8. Listening Prayer in Decision Times
9. Listening Prayer with Children
10. Listening Prayer in the Local Church
11. Listening Prayer and Outreach
12. Listening Prayer, Mercy and Justice
13. Listening Prayer for Inner Healing
Epilogue: Do you want to start a fire?

God has a Voice and God's 'sheep' know that Voice.  Dr Jersak provides 'tuning in' listening exercises to teach and train our inner 'ears' to hear God's Voice speaking to our inner spirit. Beautiful examples of questions to ask God as the learning begins and develops - just be sure to have your journal ready to record the inspiriting responses!

Loved this transformative book on prayer and have recommended it often to friends on the faith journey.  A perspective that develops the intimacy of relationship that God intends. 

I've gifted this book to each of my children as a resource for building solid life foundations and highly recommend it to Infuse: InSpirit readers.  


Forever grateful to Dr Brad Jersak for taking time to write these lessons - 

May 2013 3rd edition -1st Kindle edition - includes forward by Jason Upton + study guide for each chapter and includes an appendix "The Biblical Basis for Listening Prayer."



Available on  Brad Jersak's youtube channel for listening and learning ..


About the author:  

Dr. Brad Jersak is a Canadian author and teacher based in Abbotsford, BC, where he attends Fresh Wind Christian Fellowship. His heart is to share the good news that God is Love and that God’s love was shown to us perfectly in Jesus of Nazareth. Through his books and seminars, Brad teaches that anyone can learn to hear God’s voice through the simple practice of ”listening prayer.” 

Those who practice listening prayer find that God’s love heals wounded hearts and empowers them to heal this broken world. Brad Jersak’s foundational book, “Can You Hear Me? Tuning in to the God Who Speaks” trains readers in the ways of “Listening Prayer.” 

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Review: Majestic and Wild author Murray Pura

 "...get up and get outside to experience the grandeur of God. In "Majestic and Wild," pastor, writer, and avid outdoorsman Murray Pura weaves his real-life adventures with spiritual inspiration and life lessons, capturing the majestic and wild creation that God has set before us all. From animal encounters to wildfires to raging rapids to Daniel Boone hunts and buffalo stampedes, the stories range from dramatic and suspenseful to light-hearted and whimsical. Each story is woven with spiritual lessons not easily learned from sitting in a pew. 
A great gift for wives to give to their husbands and kids to give to their dads, "Majestic and Wild" will entertain and inspire anyone with a sense of adventure and a love for the great outdoors." [Goodreads]

Majestic and Wild: by Canadian author, Murray Pura
published by Baker Books 
released April 15.13


Inspiring adventures in the wilds of Canada, Canadian author, Murray Pura, provides greater glimpses into the majesty and beauty of our country and Creator.

From camping tales to heroics, we journey outback trails and wilderness with Pura. Sometimes solitary, sometimes in company with his family or wild menagerie. But always with increased insights into the ways of nature and of God.

Pura's writings vividly portray roaring mountain rivers to the dance of the Aurora Borealis; scents of the pine to freshly falling rainshowers.
Captivating stories of forest fires consuming vast areas of forest and relational loneliness of isolation in the midst of overwhelming beauty.

Spiritual insights are offered with gentleness; woven naturally into the fabric of the adventure. Some quotes of note-

"The wild is one of the best regions to rediscover your faith." 

"A wild place in the wet is altogether different. There is a hush, the birds are not calling... everything is waiting for the rain to finish its work..."

"The woods during a long rain are a gift from God, custom made for deep thought... for worship of God that is personal and profound..."

"..rainfall is seen as a nuisance or inconvenience.. when, in fact, its beauty can offer us rare experiences if only we enter into it. Unfortunately, we withdraw from many of life's trials and challenges which could be transforming if properly embraced."

"we need to pray for a fearless heart that retreats from nothing but faces everything"

Pura adds nature quotes from various others such as Luther, Browning and Muir and relevant writings that illustrate the scriptures referenced in each chapter.

Highly recommended for all who enjoy adventure and well suited for gift giving such as Father's Day or birthdays.

Thank you, Murray, for sharing these enlightening perspectives on your abundant spiritual journeys.






Gratefully received from Baker Books for reading and review without obligation. 

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Review: The Holy Wild - Trusting in the Character of God author Mark Buchanan

Our perception of God makes a difference in every crevice of our character, from our inner anxieties to our public conversations. It determines whether we're trusting or suspicious, whether we're happy or discontent - and whether or not we can rely on God matters mightily on the day of our death. Mark Buchanan's third book continues his penetrating exploration of the God we worship. Bravely and honestly, he poses the direst question of human existence: Can God be trusted?
God Is _________. 
How do you describe the Creator of the universe, the Maker of your inmost being? Your first chosen word for the blank space above reveals your perception of Him. Right or wrong, it defines every crevice of who you are. 
Wouldn’t you rather be right? 
Journey now into the holy wild and walk with the God who is surprising, dangerous, and mysterious. But is He good? Can you trust Him? 
Accept the invitation to explore places you have not dared to go. And find the answer for yourself. [Multnomah]


The Holy Wild: Trusting in the Character of God 
by Canadian author, Mark A. Buchanan
publisher: Multnomah

A book of challenging thought, provoking reflection and contemplation. Take your time savouring the new and unique flavours captured in expositions of the Good Samaritan, Shabbat ‘rest’, ‘faithlessness’, etc. Time well spent and well rewarded.

I was captivated by unusual insights into our own natures such as: 
“The pleasure of treasure hunting is a quirk of instinct. God wired us for this, that the simple act of searching out hidden things --- would stir our deepest blood... to risk, to dare...”

“..be holy..to be whole..healthy to the marrow, without the sour breath of envy, the..stunting in our limbs that greed or suspicion causes. Free. Unburdened by those many things that, promising to fulfil us, only betray us.” 

Instructional endnotes and references to works used in research, support and aid further personal review.

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