February 28, 2010

Ministry in Word


The Ways and the Paths – Part 3


道与路 – 第三部

Psalm 25:4-7

诗篇25:4-7

“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.”

「耶和华啊,求你将你的道指示我,将你的路教训我!求你以你的真理引导我,教训我,因为你是救我的 神。我终日等候你。耶和华啊,求你记念你的怜悯和慈爱,因为这是亘古以来所常有的。求你不要记念我幼年的罪愆和我的过犯;耶和华啊,求你因你的恩惠,按你的慈爱记念我。」


God called Abraham to leave his country, his people and his father’s household and go to the land that God would show him. This call came with God’s promise of making Abraham into a great nation and all peoples on earth would be blessed through him (Ge 12:1-3). God’s purpose was to make Abraham into the father of faith, not only to the Israelites, but also to the gentiles like us who are saved through our faith in Jesus Christ. God’s way to accomplish this purpose was to set Abraham apart from his idol worshiping environment, getting him to leave his country, his people and his father’s household. Since then Abraham became a sojourner in the land of Canaan, solely following God and minimizing the influence of the world of idolatry on him. Today God also wants to shape

us the believers into a people of faith. His way is for us to pledge our allegiance to Christ our King and live as though this world is not our home. Jesus Christ said in His prayer for His disciples just before He went to the cross, that “they are not of the world,” even as Jesus was not of it (Jn 17:16). As followers of Christ we must live in this world as though we are not of the world.

神呼召亚伯拉罕离开本地,本族,父家,往神所要指示他的地去。这个呼召带有神的应许要使亚伯拉罕成为大国并且使万民得福〔创12:1-3〕。神的目的是要使亚伯拉罕成为信心之父,不单是对以色列人而言, 也是对我们这些藉着对耶稣基督的信心而得救的外邦人而言。神要达到这个目的的方法就是使亚伯拉罕从他敬拜偶像的环境中分别出来,使他离开本地,本族,父家。自此以後亚伯拉罕成为迦南地的客旅,单一地跟随神并且尽量减少拜偶像的世界对他的影响。今天神也要塑造我们这些信徒成为信心的民族。他的方法就是要我们向我们的王基督效忠和过一个犹如这世界非我们的家的生活。耶稣基督在他上十字架之前替他的门徒祈祷,说「他们不属世界」就如耶稣不属世界一般〔约17:16〕。作为基督的跟随者
我们必要生活在这世界里犹如我们不属世界。

After Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, God went ahead of His people on their journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for them to camp and to show them the way they should go (Dt 1:33). God’s purpose for the Israelites in doing this was for them to enter the Promised Land as a free people, demonstrating to the pagan nations the abundant life that a people obedient to God could have. God’s way to do that was to lead them with the column of fire by night and the column of cloud by day, personally directing them and providing for their needs. Today God also wants us to enter our Promised Land, the Kingdom of God, testifying to the world with our obedient life God’s abundant blessings. His way to accomplish this purpose is for us to be the light of the world, letting the presence of the Holy Spirit shine through our life. For the Bible says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” (Ps 37:5-6)

摩西领以色列人离开埃及为奴之地後,神在路上,在他们前面行,为他们找安营的地方;夜间在火柱里,日间在云柱里,指示他们所当行的路〔申1:33〕。神这样做的用意是要以色列人以一个自由民族的身份进入应许之地,对异教国家显明一个顺服神的民族可以得到的丰富生命。神达到这个目的的方法就是夜间以火柱白天以云柱来带领他们,亲自指示和供应他们的需要。今天神要我们进入我们的应许之地,神的国度,以我们顺服的生命来见证神丰富的祝福。他要达到这个目的的方法就是要我们当世上的光,让圣灵的同在照透我们的生命。因为圣经说:「当将你的事交托耶和华,并倚靠他,他就必成全。他要使你的公义如光发出,使你的公平明如正午。」〔诗37:5-6〕



To be continued next week.

下周待续。



May we willingly become the people of faith, entering God’s Promised Land for our life. May we be obedient to His ways and His paths, living in this world but not of it, allowing the Spirit to shine through our lives like the noonday sun, giving testimony to the glory of God.

愿我们愿意成为信心的民族,进入我们生命中神所应许之地。愿我们顺从他的道路,生活在这世界里但不属世界,让圣灵照透我们的生命明如正午,见证神的荣耀。


Tom and Tehwan Tso

仲谋与德菀


“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效, 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1:9__

February 23, 2010

beauty is as beauty DOES

The only way we Can live out our lives as Oswald Chambers is speaking of below is directly related to how great our faith in the fact that Christ was one with His father while He walk about on this earth. Then our faith must develop to embrace the fact that Christ is in us and we are in Him so we too are one. When we believe that, we will allow Him to transform us so that He may continue His task as we continue His task ...so that our Father is continuing His task.


I pray for us all to gain understanding of what it looks like to live like this, if only for "today".

With love in Christ,
Candace



The Determination to Serve

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve . . . —Matthew 20:28

Jesus also said, "Yet I am among you as the One who serves" (Luke 22:27). Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s— ". . . ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake" ( 2 Corinthians 4:5 ). We somehow have the idea that a person called to the ministry is called to be different and above other people. But according to Jesus Christ, he is called to be a "doormat" for others— called to be their spiritual leader, but never their superior. Paul said, "I know how to be abased . . ." (Philippians 4:12 ). Paul’s idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference. As long as there was one human being who did not know Jesus, Paul felt a debt of service to that person until he did come to know Him. But the chief motivation behind Paul’s service was not love for others but love for his Lord. If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another.

Paul’s understanding of how Christ had dealt with him is the secret behind his determination to serve others. "I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man . . ." ( 1 Timothy 1:13 ). In other words, no matter how badly others may have treated Paul, they could never have treated him with the same degree of spite and hatred with which he had treated Jesus Christ. Once we realize that Jesus has served us even to the depths of our meagerness, our selfishness, and our sin, nothing we encounter from others will be able to exhaust our determination to serve others for His sake. - Oswald Chambers

February 20, 2010

Which Way Do I Go.....Which Way do I Go?

If you read in the old testement you will see where the followers of God were always "waiting" on the Lord to tell them what to say, do or where to go. For some reason, we think that God only helps those that help themselves. There are things in the bible that tell us we must work as if we are working unto the Lord. But that does not imply that we are to run ahead of Him.


Think about these words from Proverbs 21 and consider that in Jeremiah God asks us to stand at the cross road, ask for the way that is good before we set out. He also asks us not to lean on our own understanding, but to consider His ways which are higher than our. Lastly, He loves us and promises that if we will just listen to Him, that He has plans for us to prosper and not to harm us. So let's trust Him!

(Gods Word translation)Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is like streams of water. Both are under the LORD's control. He turns them in any direction he chooses. 2 A person thinks everything he does is right, but the LORD weighs hearts. 3 Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to the LORD than offering a sacrifice. 4 A conceited look and an arrogant attitude, which are the lamps of wicked people, are sins. 5 The plans of a hard-working person lead to prosperity, but everyone who is [always] in a hurry ends up in poverty. 6 Those who gather wealth by lying are wasting time. They are looking for death. 7 The violence of wicked people will drag them away since they refuse to do what is just. 8 The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the behavior of those who are pure is moral. 9 Better to live on a corner of a roof than to share a home with a quarreling woman. 10 The mind of a wicked person desires evil and has no consideration for his neighbor. 11 When a mocker is punished, a gullible person becomes wise, and when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.

I pray that God keep you today and make His face to shine upon each of you.

With Love
Candace



Parked For Now
From Daily Bread Devotionals



READ: Numbers 9:19-23


I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. —Psalm 40:1

Parking my car has been a lifelong problem for me. It really wasn’t a high priority with my driving instructor, so I never learned to back up into a parking space until many years later. He also skipped the parallel parking lesson, and I still avoid that unless there’s enough space for two or three cars.

I’ve also struggled to understand a statement I heard when I was a young Christian: “God can’t steer a parked car.” I took that as a challenge to shift my life into motion, and along the way God would guide me in the right direction. It’s an interesting thought, but it’s not always the way God works. Occasionally, God does want us to “stay parked” for a while.

At times, when Moses was in the wilderness, God kept the Israelites in one place. He led them by a cloud, and when it stayed still for many days, “the children of Israel . . . did not journey” (Num. 9:19). Waiting isn’t always easy, but sometimes God wants us to stay right where He has put us. The psalmist reminds us, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart” (27:14).



You may feel that you’re stuck and just spinning your wheels in your service for God. But keep your heart open to God’s leading. Then you’ll be ready to shift gears when you hear God say, “Let’s go this way.” — Cindy Hess Kasper

Praying, resting, waiting, trusting—
These are words that tell a story;
As we wait for God to lead us,
He responds, “Just seek My glory.” —Hess

God orders our stops as well as our steps.

February 19, 2010

Coulda Shoulda, Woulda...But What IF?

I was speaking with a friend a few weeks ago and she stated to me "You have so much patience with people". I am humbled when someone says that to me, because I know that "I" on my own do not. I know that God has afforded me the opportunity to learn through the trials I have been through in my life. He has been with me through many trying and tough situations. I thank Him for teaching me, molding me, breaking me and adding to me piece by piece....His radiance, His reflection, His ways that lead to life everlasting.

I certainly know that I have many, many things to still grow toward. But this I do give Him credit for and acknowledge - I am such a different person than I was even 5 or 10 years ago; much less I mention 30 years ago. We all are changing and transforming "into His image" when we "allow" it. Sometimes those blockades we were talking about Wed evening are to get us to stop, drop and look up. We see them as HUGE boulders blocking us getting where we want to go. What if that is their purpose? What if that is Him trying desperately to communicate with us...calling our names, but we cannot hear Him due to the deafening scream of the things we fear calling out to us as well.


I do not know if I shared the poem IF with you all before. I am attaching it after this morning devotion. I love each and everyone of you, and I pray that "Today" we seek Him. We listen for His voice. We ask what He is trying to tell us, show us, then wait on His explanation and find peace in Him.

Amen,
Candace

If Day
A Daily Bread Devotional from rbc.org


READ: James 1:1-11

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. —James 1:2-3

February 19, 1942, was a fascinating day for Canada. It was “If Day”—a World War II staging of a fake Nazi invasion of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The intent was to show what it would be like “if” Canada fell under the harsh occupation of Nazi forces, and so that Canadians would support the war effort more fully.

As one person described the event: “If Day brought home the reality of Nazi occupation. Manitobans got a very bitter taste of nearly every aspect of Nazi brutality.” The key word there is nearly. While “If Day” was a valiant attempt to educate people about danger in the world, it could not begin to recreate the actual suffering that was sweeping Europe.
Real trials in life are not ifs—they are whens. In fact, life’s most profound lessons cannot simply be observed, they must be experienced. It is there, in actual seasons of heartache and loss, that we gain greater insights into life, faith, and our need of God. To that end, James wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3).
Trials come because we live in a broken world, but we decide if we will learn the lessons taught. There are no “ifs” about it—it is an important way to grow. — By Bill Crowder

Though you cannot see the outcome,
Trust the Lord—He knows what’s best;
Be assured He sees your trial,
And He’s with you in your test. —Hess

Tough times can teach us to trust.


IF


If I had not been called
I would not know how to answer
If I had not have opened the door
He would not have had entry
IF I had not welcomed him
He would not have stayed
If I had not have asked
He would not have answered me
IF he had had no patience with me
I would not be able to share of his love
If I had not needed his encouragement
He would not have made it available
If I had not experienced hardship
I would not have know that I needed him
If he did not let me face the pain of my choices
I would not have known hardship
If he had not set boundaries
I would not have grown
If I did not turn to Him
I would never have known true peace
IF I had never desired to know His peace
I would never have known my Lord

My Lord loves through teaching, embracing, encouraging, sacrificing and giving
He gives abundantly: strength and peace
The strength to face the task
And the peace to mentally stay focused
There are so many facets of his love
I have a tendency to only consider the ones that I can hope to accomplish in my own strength
Until I truly seek my Sheppard, I have absolutely no means to gain understanding
It is through conversing with him, that he grants us his visions and understanding
He desires to increase us because he has massive amounts to accomplish
We have to be still and empty our lives of ourselves in order to be filled with him
He dwells among us in any form that will give Him room
He is not one: He is many, He is abundant, and He is everyone that wishes to love
He is patient, kind, and understanding
He is rich, poor, every race and language
He is every size and every age and He wishes us all to love deeply, tenderly, openly, honestly, truly, passionately, eagerly, genuinely
But mostly -freely; with wings that can carry, cover, lift and give life

Together we are One, we are Complete, we are Christ

By Candace Huffmaster














February 18, 2010

I Should be Dust by Now....but God........

We all have days..and yes, some of us even years, when we just do not think we can take another day like the one we have just lived through. But there you have it....we DID lived through it!!


Makes me kind of giggle at myself when I see how weak I "thought" I was and yet here I am; despite myself. THAT is God..He shows up and shows out in our weakest moment. Apart from Him we probably would just crumble into a million weary pieces. With Him we CAN pick up our weary pieces and move right on.

Praise God it is a new day...and He gives us the Mercy and the Grace to get through this one too.

My prayers over you all for His victory in all things to race upon you, move through you and set the path ahead of you,THIS day!

With love and faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ,
Candace



Taking the Initiative Against Despair


Rise, let us be going —Matthew 26:46
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, "Well, it’s all over and ruined now; what’s the point in trying anymore." If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize we have not taken advantage of a magnificent opportunity, we are apt to sink into despair. But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, "Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can’t change that. But get up, and let’s go on to the next thing." In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him.

There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing— they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, "Get up, and do the next thing." If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption.

Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step. By Oswald Chambers

Ministry in Word

The Ways and the Paths – Part 2
道与路 – 第二部


Psalm 25:4-7
诗篇25:4-7

“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.”

「耶和华啊,求你将你的道指示我,将你的路教训我!求你以你的真理引导我,教训我,因为你是救我的神。我终日等候你。耶和华啊,求你记念你的怜悯和慈爱,因为这是亘古以来所常有的。求你不要记念我幼年的罪愆和我的过犯;耶和华啊,求你因你的恩惠,按你的慈爱记念我。」

The following is a story written by Tom Bernard in his Friday Evenings newsletter and quoted in the Preaching Daily devotional: When Victor Frankl was arrested by the Nazis during World War II, he was stripped of everything of value he owned. His only possession when he arrived at Auschwitz was a manuscript of a book he had been working on for a very long time. To preserve it from confiscation, Frankl had sewn it into the lining of his coat. When he was searched, his manuscript was found and was taken from him. Later he wrote, "I found myself confronted with the question of whether under such circumstances my life was ultimately void of any meaning."

下面是汤姆伯纳在他的「周五晚间」新闻信札中写的一个故事,被「每天讲道」灵修短文中引述:在二次大战中维特法兰高被纳粹逮捕时,他拥有的全部有价值的东西都被没收。在他到达澳殊维特斯集中营时他只有他用了很长时间写的一本书的文稿。为了避免它被充公,法兰高把它缝入他大衣的履子里面。他被搜查时他的文稿被发现也被拿走了。後来他写道,「我发现自己面对这个问题:我的生命在这情况下是否最终失去任何意义。」

Apparently in an effort to keep prisoners from accumulating anything worthwhile, the Germans routinely forced prisoners to give up their clothing and in return they were issued clothing taken from other prisoners on their way to the gas chambers. In the garment of the old clothing re-issued to Frankl was a torn piece of paper—a portion of a page from a Hebrew prayer book. On it was part of the Jewish prayer—Shema Yisrael—"Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one God."

很明显为了防止囚犯累积任何有价值的东西,德军惯性地强迫囚犯交出他们的衣服来换上那些正要去瓦斯室被毒死的囚犯的衣服。在法兰高接到的旧衣服中他找到一片撕下来的纸,是一本希伯来祷告书的一部份。其上是犹太祈祷文〔ShemaYisrael〕的一部份:「以色列阿,你要听!耶和华─我们 神是独一的主。」

Later Frankl wrote, "How should I have interpreted such a 'coincidence' other than as a challenge to live my thoughts instead of merely putting them on paper?" From that experience Frankl concluded, "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how."

後来法兰高写道,「我应该如何解释这个〝巧合〞如果不把它看为要我活出我的思维而非单单写在纸上的一个挑战呢?」法兰高从那次经历作了以下的结论:「一个有理由去生存的人可以忍受几乎任何的生存方法。」

Frankl was saying that he who has a reason to live for can endure almost any way to live. What better reason to live for than Jesus Christ and what better way to live than God’s way.

法兰高的意思是如果一个人找到生存的意义就能忍受几乎任何生存的方法。有什麽比耶稣基督更好的生存意义和有什麽比神的方法去活更好的方法。

We must learn His ways and His paths from the Lord, but we must first learn His purpose for our life. We ought to embrace His purpose for our life, because God says in Jeremiah 29:11 that, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.” God has a plan for all His creatures, all of us, to bless us and not to harm us. Every event in a person’s life has God’s purpose in it. We need to first learn His purpose and after that His ways to carry out His plan.

我们必要向主学习他的道路,但我们必要先学习他对我们生命的目的。我们应该接受他对我们生命的目的,因为在耶利米书29:11神说:「我知道我向你们所怀的意念是赐平安的意念,不是降灾祸的意念,要叫你们末後有指望。」神向他所有受造物,就是我们所有人,都怀有一个意念,要赐平安而非降灾祸给我们。一个人生命中每件事都有神的目的在其中。我们须要先知道他的目的然後他的方法来执行他的意念。

To be continued next week.

下周待续。

May we first receive God’s purpose for our life, and embrace His ways and His paths to realize this purpose, knowing that He wants to bless us and not to harm us.

愿我们先接受神在我们生命中的目的,和顺从他的道路来实现这目的,明白他要赐平安给我们而非降祸给我们。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9
“信心的果效, 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1:9

February 17, 2010

He Sees the Diamond in the Rough, All We See is the Rough.

When we look behind us, do we focus on our mistakes or how God cleaned up our mess. How can we be a proper witness if all we see is how flawed we are.....we are supposed to be showing others how Great HE is!


I pray that we forgive others where they fall short, and that we not remember where we fall short, but remember how powerful God is to pick us up - virtually unscathed!

With Love, in Christ - Amen,
Candace


In The Car Wash
From Daily Bread rbc.org

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. —Isaiah 43:2

I’ll never forget my first experience using an automatic car wash. Approaching it with the dread of going to the dentist, I pushed the money into the slot, nervously checked and rechecked my windows, eased the car up to the line, and waited. Powers beyond my control began moving my car forward as if on a conveyor belt. There I was, cocooned inside, when a thunderous rush of water, soap, and brushes hit my car from all directions. What if I get stuck in here or water crashes in? I thought irrationally. Suddenly the waters ceased. After a blow-dry, my car was propelled into the outside world again, clean and polished.

In the midst of all this, I remembered stormy times in my life when it seemed I was on a conveyor belt, a victim of forces beyond my control. “Car-wash experiences,” I now call them. I remembered that whenever I passed through deep waters my Redeemer had been with me, sheltering me against the rising tide (Isa. 43:2). When I came out on the other side, which I always did, I was able to say with joy and confidence, “He is a faithful God!”

Are you in the middle of a car-wash experience? Trust God to bring you through to the other side. You’ll then be a shining testimony of His keeping power. — Joanie Yoder

How wonderful to know that He
Who watches from above
Will always keep us sheltered in
His ever-present love! —King

A tunnel of testing can produce a shining testimony.
Reference Verses Isaiah 43:1-13 (God's Word Translation)
The LORD created Jacob and formed Israel. Now, this is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid, because I have reclaimed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through the sea, I am with you. When you go through rivers, they will not sweep you away. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, and the flames will not harm you. 3 I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Egypt is the ransom I exchanged for you. Sudan and Seba are the price I paid for you. 4 Since you are precious to me, you are honored and I love you. I will exchange others for you. Nations will be the price I pay for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, because I am with you. I will bring your descendants from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, "Give them up," and to the south, "Do not keep them." Bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the ends of the earth. 7 Bring everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. 8 Bring the people who are blind but still have eyes, the people who are deaf but still have ears. 9 All nations have gathered together, and people have assembled. Who among them could have revealed this? Who among them could have foretold this to us? They should bring their witnesses to prove that they were right. Let the people hear them. Then they will say that it is true. 10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD. "I have chosen you as my servant so that you can know and believe in me and understand that I am the one [who did this]. No god was formed before me, and there will be none after me. 11 I alone am the LORD, and there is no savior except me. 12 I have revealed it to you, I have saved you, and I have announced it to you. There was no foreign [god] among you. You are my witnesses that I am God," declares the LORD. 13 "From the [first] day I was the one [who did this]. No one can rescue people from my power. When I do something, who can undo it?"

February 13, 2010

You are a Princess / Prince!

Today we are talking about Crowns and Glory.



Psalms 8:5 is one of the most commonly quoted scriptures. I am always truly unsettled by this scripture, there seems to be so much ambiguity surrounding it meaning. Maybe that is to keep us searching deeper into God's meaning and not leaning on our own understanding.

"Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!" (NAS)
When we go back and break down the Hebrew meanings of the highlighted words, it is my understanding that what this is possibly saying is this - Elohim, God divinely created us out of Himself to be less than complete apart from Him. Yet he surrounds us, looks upon us.. to help us.. with glory( honor, abundance, riches, dignity, reputation, reverence) and majesty (the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold, honor whichh belongs or is shown to due to rank of office which he holds)

This is what He did for Christ, this is what He offers to us. We simply have to understand that when we separate ourselves from our "crown of His help" we are choosing to be crowned by another Kingdom.

I pray that we all accept his "Headship" and allow His Crown to Grace our Heads...even if just for Today! Let us worry about tomorrow, when tomorrow comes.

With Love in Christ,
Candace

I Spy With My Little Eye....

Today I wanted to go deeper into some Philippians verses - I was going to use another devotion when some things really started jumping to life from these words. See if you see what I see. (I spy....with my little eye...something straight where it was crooked).


Below I am putting some verses that I was reminded of when reading this. I would love it if you shared with me any thoughts you have. I will make a list of all our thoughts (there are around 20 of us now doing these daily devotions together - isn't that awesome!)

I pray that the eyes of our heart are enlightened, that we see the coming of the Lord. Today his kindgom is at hand!

Amen,
Candace


Philippians 2:12 (God's Word Translation) My dear friends, you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I'm absent In the same way continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing. 15 Then you will be blameless and innocent. You will be God's children without any faults among people who are crooked and corrupt. You will shine like stars among them in the world 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I can brag on the day of Christ that my effort was not wasted and that my work produced results. 17 My life is being poured out as a part of the sacrifice and service [I offer to God] for your faith. Yet, I am filled with joy, and I share that joy with all of you. 18 For this same reason you also should be filled with joy and share that joy with me.



Paul is speaking to the Christians he was leading in the same exact manner Christ spoke to those He was responsible for. Remember in the verses from yesterday, Christ prayed to God that He had watched over all those God gave him and He was glorified because they saw what He was telling them, and believed it was true.

They shine because of the glory of God, that is the light we have to offer; Not of ourselves, but God. When we grumble and complain instead of trust and encourage - speaking the hard to digest truth, but with love, He shines and we transmit His radiance. Verses from John yesterday speak of this.

Lastly, I love Proverbs 4, read it in context to yesterday and today's information. You will see God, Christ and how the Holy Spirit surrounds us as well as the great cloud of witnesses we are covered by and strengthened through to continue bringing God glory! We are children of the Most High God, read about the crown in proverbs 4, remember that the bible speaks of us laying our crowns at the feet of Christ, and that being His glory.

Proverbs 4:1(Gods Word Translation) Sons, listen to [your] father's discipline, and pay attention in order to gain understanding. 2 After all, I have taught you well. Do not abandon my teachings. 3 When I was a boy [learning] from my father, when I was a tender and only child of my mother, 4 they used to teach me and say to me, "Cling to my words wholeheartedly. Obey my commands so that you may live. 5 Acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding. Do not forget. Do not turn away from the words that I have spoken. 6 Do not abandon wisdom, and it will watch over you. Love wisdom, and it will protect you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding with all that you have. 8 Cherish wisdom. It will raise you up. It will bring you honor when you embrace it. 9 It will give you a graceful garland for your head. It will hand you a beautiful crown." 10 My son, listen and accept my words, and they will multiply the years of your life. 11 I have taught you the way of wisdom. I have guided you along decent paths. 12 When you walk, your stride will not be hampered. Even if you run, you will not stumble. 13 Cling to discipline. Do not relax your grip on it. Keep it because it is your life. 14 Do not stray onto the path of wicked people. Do not walk in the way of evil people. 15 Avoid it. Do not walk near it. Turn away from it, and keep on walking. 16 Wicked people cannot sleep unless they do wrong, and they are robbed of their sleep unless they make someone stumble. 17 They eat food obtained through wrongdoing and drink wine obtained through violence. 18 But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday. 19 The way of wicked people is like deep darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble. 20 My son, pay attention to my words. Open your ears to what I say. 21 Do not lose sight of these things. Keep them deep within your heart 22 because they are life to those who find them and they heal the whole body. 23 Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. 24 Remove dishonesty from your mouth. Put deceptive speech far away from your lips. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you. 26 Carefully walk a straight path, and all your ways will be secure. 27 Do not lean to the right or to the left. Walk away from evil.


Tomorrow we will be looking at our Crowns! (every girl needs a tiara! - and every prince a crown)

The people ransomed by the LORD will return. They will come to Zion singing with joy. Everlasting happiness will be on their heads [as a crown]. They will be glad and joyful. They will have no sorrow or grief.

February 12, 2010

Would I know it if I found It?

Have you ever been looking for something and you could not find it until someone told you right where it was or exactly what shape, color etc it was. That is the same as seeking God, or the things of God.

Do you remember the U2 Song "I Still Haven't Found What I am Looking For"?  Look at the lyrics below and relate them to what we are speaking of. 
Song writers: Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr.


I have climbed hightest mountain
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
But I still haven’t found what I am looking for
But I still haven’t found what I am looking for
I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
But I still haven’t found what I am looking for
I believe in the kingdom come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
Well yes I’m still running
You broke the bonds and you
Loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Of my shame
You know I believe it
But I still haven’t found what I am looking for
But I still haven’t found what I am looking for
But I still haven’t found what I am looking for
But I still haven’t found what I am looking for

Yesterday we were talking about expecting God to show up as we see Him. Sometimes it is hard to see Him in any way other than what we know...we only see what we have experienced. This is why He tells us to see by Faith not by sight. This is why we must read about who He says He is and what His promises for us should look like. He loves us and wants us to see His promises not our past mistakes. This is how to see correctly, look for Him, who He says He is and trust. This is how your faith can save you from your brokenness of past mistakes and the past mistakes of others. That is what seeing things through His eyes and mind "looks like".

I pray that "Today" we look for Him with all our heart, mind and body so that we will find Him, through Christ....in all ways.

I know what I have believed, and I know His words are always true,
With Love,

Candace



Is Your Ability to See God Blinded?


Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things . . . —Isaiah 40:26

The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.

The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.

One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.  By Oswald Chambers

February 11, 2010

The Ways and the Paths

Ministry in Word


The Ways and the Paths – Part 1
道与路 – 第一部



Psalm 25:4-7
诗篇25:4-7

“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach

me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD,

your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth

and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O

LORD.”

「耶和华啊,求你将你的道指示我,将你的路教训我!求你以你的真理引导我,教训我,因为你是救我的神。我终日等候你。耶和华啊,求你记念你的怜悯和慈爱,因为这是亘古以来所常有的。求你不要记念我幼年的罪愆和我的过犯;耶和华啊,求你因你的恩惠,按你的慈爱记念我。」



PURPOSE AND WAYS

目的与方法



For some reasons the beginning of a new year is to many people often a time to make

resolutions. I guess we all want to improve ourselves in some ways. We want to feel

better about ourselves. But most of all we want another chance at doing that, because

often we didn’t follow through with our resolution in the previous year. It might last a

month, two months, or even more, but we often failed to carry it throughout the year.

That’s why when New Year day comes around, it is resolution time again.

不晓得为什麽对许多人而言一年之首常常是立志的时候。我猜我们大家都想要在某方面改良自己吧。我们想要喜爱自己多一点,但最主要的是我们要再有机会来改良自己,因为我们经常没有完成上一年立志要做的。我们可能坚持了一个月,两个月,或者甚至更久,但我们通常没法维持一年。这就是为什麽新年一到,又是立志的时候了。



We need a better way to do what we do in order to improve ourselves. And who else but

God has the best way for anything and everything, for Isaiah 55:8-9 state that God’s

thoughts are NOT our thoughts, NEITHER are our ways His ways. As the heavens are

higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our

thoughts. His ideas are the best ideas for us and His ways are the best ways. Not only

that, we should choose God’s way over our way because Proverb 14:12 says, “There is a

way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” We don’t want to follow

a way that leads to a dead end, not to mention to death.

要改良自己我们需要一个较佳的方法来做我们所做的。除了神以外还有谁凡事都有最佳的方法呢,因为以赛亚书55:8说神的意念非同我们的意念,神的道路也非同我们的道路,天怎样高过地,照样,神的道路高过我们的道路;神的意念高过我们的意念。他的主意对我们是最美的主意,他的方法是最好的方法。不单如此,我们该选择神的路而非我们的路因为箴言14:12说,「有一条路,人以为正,至终成为死亡之路。」我们不想走上一条死巷,莫说死亡之路了。



But purpose comes before the ways. We must first know why we are doing what we do

before we can improve the way we do them. We must first know the purpose of our life

before we can find the best ways to live our life.

但该先有目的才考虑道路。我们一定先要知道我们做一件事的原因,然後才能改

善我们的做法。我们一定先要知道我们生命的目的,然後才能找到最佳的方法来

过我们的生活。



In the television program, the Biggest Loser, many over weight people try to win the

contest of who loses the most weight. Why do these contestants do all the hard work and

exercises to reduce their body weight? Of course winning the prize is an incentive. But

many of them also realize that their obesity is a health hazard, and without reducing their

weights they may not live to see their children grow up. Once they have found their most

important purpose, they will then learn the best way to accomplish it.

在「最大的减少者」这个电视节目中,很多过重的人要赢减体重最多的比赛。为何这些参赛者要这麽辛苦做运动来减肥呢?当然赢得奖金是一个动机。但他们之中许多人亦知道他们的痴胖是对健康的危害,若再不减肥他们可能活不到看到他们的孩子长大。他们一旦发现他们最重要的目的,他们就去寻找最好的办法来完成它。



In today’s scriptures King David asked God, “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me

your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me.” WHY did King David ask God for this?

The reason is in the verse that follows it: “For you are God my Savior, and my hope is in

you all day long.” There is a purpose for us to ask God to show us His ways and guide us

in His truth. The purpose is that we want to declare and affirm our relationship with God,

that He is our God our Savior, the Creator of our physical and spiritual life, and the

Redeemer of our souls. It is also because we want to declare and affirm our dependence

on God, that we put our hope in Him 24 hours a day everyday, that there is not a moment

of our life that we need not to rely on Him, that He is the sustainer of our physical and

spiritual life. THAT is our purpose to ask for God’s teaching of His paths. And that is

God’s purpose for our life.

在今天的经文中大卫王求神,「耶和华啊,求你将你的道指示我,将你的路教训我!求以你的真理引导我,教训我。」为什麽大卫王求神做这事呢?可以在下一句找到原因:「为你是救我的神。我终日等候你。」我们所以求神将他的道指示我们和以他的真理引导我是有目的的。那目的就是我们要宣告和肯定我们与神的关系,就是他是救我们的神、我们物质与属灵生命的创造主,和我们灵魂的救赎主。同时也是因为我们要宣告和肯定我们对神的依靠,我们每日24小时等候他,我们生命中没有一个时刻我们不须要依靠他,他是我们物质与属灵生命的维持者。那就是我们求神将他的路教训我们的目的。而那就是神对我们生命的

目的。



To be continued next week.

下周待续。



May we first learn God’s purpose for our life. May we then learn His ways and His paths

to realize this purpose.

愿我们先寻到神在我们生命中的目的。愿我们也学习他的道路来实现这目的。



Tom and Tehwan Tso

仲谋与德菀



“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效, 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1:9

February 6, 2010

"Do Not Fear, I AM with You"

We have been studying Who God means He is when He said "tell them I AM sent you". Our ongoing search for the next 7 days is to research scripture and find who God says you are - personalize that and ask yourself "who does I AM say that I am?"


If you were not with us when we were studying Fear, go back to the blue notebook and find the segments on "Do not fear, I am with you". God promised that He is with us showing us the way out if we will trust Him. Remember His promise..."I will never leave you nor forsake you".

I pray that we all take our eyes off the pain around us or inflicted upon us by others brokenness and remember, our position is always to do the best we can, release others from the bondage of payment for their mistakes while focusing on how much we ourselves fall short of the glory of God. I thank God for His mercy and grace for this day and the ability we all have to praise Him in all ways at all times no matter what we might be experiencing.

Be at Peace today in Him.

Candace



Do not fear for I am with you.Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish. You will seek those who quarrel with you but you will not find them. Those who war with you will be as nothing or non-existent. For I Am the Lord your God who upholds your right hand, Who says to you do not fear, I AM with you. Isaiah 41:10-13


THE LORD UPHOLDS YOU, by T. D. Jakes
from Strength for Every Moment


The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterfly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand (Psalm 37:23-24)

Has something so painful and overwhelming happened to you that it has affected every area of your life? Every time you kneel to pray, does your mind go back to the fact that someone broke your heart and wounded your spirit?

Have you experienced something so personally devastating that you can't discuss it with anyone? You find it difficult to trust people, and you don't know where to turn. You may feel as if everyone is grading you and evaluating your progress, when, when actually you are your own hardest judge.

You know you should be further along in life. but someone or some circumstance crippled your faith. Your hopes and dreams were never fulfilled.

You know you should have finished school; you know you should have been a teacher or a musician by now. By society's standards, you should already be married and have children.

Maybe you think your ministry should be further along or that you should have a successful career at this point in your life. Your dreams and goals should have been fulfilled years ago. but you've been crippled. Don't give up. There is hope for you and healing for past hurts.


God has a way of bringing us out of bondage and then making us remember where we came from. When we, like Joseph, begin to experience success and victory, God will remind us that He opened the door of the prison. He set us free.


Things to consider:

1. Has something so painful and overwhelming happened to you that it has affected every area of your life? Write about it.

2. Every time you kneel to pray, does your mind go back to the fact that someone broke your heart and wounded your spirit? Write about it.

3. Have you experienced something so personally devestating that you cannot discuss it with anyone? Write about it.

4. God will bring you out of bondage and will soften the memories so that you can live with them in peace. Write why you believe this truth and then trust God to make it so.

5. When you experience success and victory, God will remind you that He opened the door of the prison and set you free. Thank Him.


Meditation:


The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterfly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand (Psalm 37:23-24)


Many have fallen because of drugs, lust, greed, false religion, and other worldly temptations; when they ask God for help, He gently lifts them up with His hand.

February 3, 2010

Participants of the Divine Nature – Part 5

Ministry in Word

Participants of the Divine Nature – Part 5
与神的性情有分-第五部

Based on Charles H. Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening devotional

2 Peter 1:3-4
彼得後书1:3-4



“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
「神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们,皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。因此,他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们,叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏,就得与神的性情有分。」

We Are Sanctified Through Resisting Sin
我们藉着抵挡罪使我们成圣

We see that we are sanctified by the word of God, and by the work of God and the Holy Spirit. Do we remain passive and have no part in our sanctification? Apostle Paul did not think so. We are also sanctified through resisting sin ourselves. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and said, “It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” (1 Th 4:3-7) If it is God’s will for us to avoid sins and have self control, to deal rightly with our brothers, and to live a pure and holy life, it ought to be our will to do so as well. If we are participants of the divine nature, God’s will becomes our will, and we pray that “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt 6:10)

我们了解是神的道、神的工作和圣灵的工作使我们成圣。我们是否完全被动,在我们成圣的功夫上无份呢?使徒保罗认为并非如此。我们也藉着抵挡罪使我们圣。保罗写信对帖撒罗弥迦人说,「神的旨意就是要你们成为圣洁,远避淫行;要你们各人晓得怎样用圣洁、尊贵守着自己的身体。不放纵私欲的邪情,像那不 认识神的外邦人。不要一个人在这事上越分,欺负他的弟兄;因为这一类的事,主必报应,正如我预先对你们说过,又切切嘱咐你们的。神召我们,本不是要我 们沾染污秽,乃是要我们成为圣洁。」〔帖前4:3-7〕如果是神的旨意要我们远避 罪和有自制,公道地对待我们的弟兄,和过一个圣洁的生活,那也该是我们的旨意去如此行。如果我们是与神的性情有分的人,神的旨意就成为我们的旨意,而我们祈祷「愿你的旨意行在地上,如同行在天上。」〔太6:10〕

Conclusion
结语

Let me recall for us Apostle Peter’s words in today’s Scriptures: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

让我为大家复述使徒彼得在今天经文中的话:「神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们,皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。因此,他已将 又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们,叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏,就得与神的性情有分。」

All that we need for living a godly life have been given us, we don’t need anything any more. God invites us to be participants of the divine nature through our knowledge of Him, through our personal relationship with Him, and in our alignment of our will with  His will. Through His own glory and goodness He called us into His great and precious promises. The purpose of these promises is to get us to participate in the divine nature
and avoid the corruption in the world.

一切所需来过虔敬生命的事都已赐给我们了,再不需要什麽了。神邀请我们藉着我们对他的认识、藉着我们与他的个人关系,以及藉着我们旨意与他的旨意一致 来成为与神的性情有分的人。他以自己的荣耀和美德召我们进入他宝贵又极大的 应许中。他的应许的目的是要叫我们与神的性情有分和脱离世上的败坏。

The Bible says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever" (Ps  107:1). So at times when we are not feeling like it in our own nature, if we will just give praise and worship to God according to the divine nature we are participating in, even the sacrifice of praise, it can be a powerful testimony to a lost and watching world that God is good and His love endures forever!

圣经说,「你们要称谢耶和华,因他本为善;他的慈爱永远长存!」〔詩107:1〕 所以有时当我们在我们的性情中不想称谢和敬拜神,如果我们照着神的性情如此 行,什至献上颂赞的祭,那可以成为对失丧和在观望的世界的一个有力的见证,这见证就是神本为善,他的慈爱永远长存!

May the word of God, the work of God and the Holy Spirit, and our resisting sin sanctify us from the corruption in the world, through our participation of the divine nature.

愿神的道、神与圣灵的工作,和我们抵挡罪,藉着我们与神的性情有分,使我们 从世上的败坏分别为圣。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀


“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9
“信心的果效, 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1:9

Cowbody Take Me Away!

Cowboy Take Me Away!


"Cowboy take me away fly this girl as high as you can into the wild blue
Set me free, oh I pray, closer to heaven above and closer to you....
Closer to you...."  Dixie Chicks Lyrics



It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (God's Word Translation)

We now understand that freedom is the ability to not be bound, to have made it out of our turbulence so that we CAN help another person. I want us to be sure we understand what we are actually free “from”. What does He mean when he says “do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” ?
2 Corinthians 3:17,18 states:
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

 
To understand what the true meaning of this statement was we have to look at two Greek works that this is derived from:

Duleiua – meaning servitude, dependence, the state of Doulos (defined below), servant. To be in the position of a servant and act accordingly, to be subject and serve in subjection, bondage, used of actions which are directed by others. Reduced to bondage under someone, deprived of freedom, to be under the law. Metaphorically, to be a slave to, such as to pleasures.

Doulos – means a slave, one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will altogether comsumed in the will of the other, to bind.
When God tells us that we are His bond slave, the meaning is that of a freed slave that chooses to stay with his master because he is treated so well, yet at anytime the slave is free to go.

Is there some one or some thing in your life that you have no freedom to be who God desires you to be?

God I pray that you show us with unveiled faces where we allow ourselves to serve another master; where we have unintentionally put a God in your place. We know that the Lord is the Spirit and your spirit searches the depths of all things even you. Forgive us, restore us. We ask to see clearly and to allow all that you are to transform us, step by step into the same image; from glory to glory till we radiate as does the Lord. Let us permeate His glory into this place.

In Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Candace

We don't need a cowboy we have a Sheppard and it is done;so fly!

February 2, 2010

Song of Freedom

Yesterday we ended with the verse from Galatians 5:1
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."


Today I want to be sure we understand what these words actually mean. The translator chose the word Freedom for this verse based on the Greek word Eleutherai, meaning freedom, generosity, independence. In contrast with the present subjection of the creature to the bondage of corruption, freedom represents the future state of the children of God. As in Romans 8:20-21

“ For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

The perfect law of freedom is the freedom of Generosity James 1:25
“But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does."

From my understanding, God is angry because people get lead deeper into slavery / bondage due to unintentionally walking away from Him. Christ says, Romans 8:15

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father!”

When God gets angry about us being lead away, I do not believe He is angry with us. Christ even cried out of the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Where His concern lies in with the people leading others. This is the reason we are accountable for our idle words. God places special moments across our paths with purpose. His children are seeking Him trying desperately to find someone that can show them the way all day and night long.

This is where His generosity comes in to place in the law of freedom. Because we have been given what we needed to be free, we have to share that with someone in bondage. We are not to become a forgetful hearer, but an effectual doer. God promises that we will be blessed in what we do for helping someone when they were lost. It does take a conscious effort. It does take an act of kindness from a compassionate heart. The great news is that God does not expect us to pull “ourselves” up to muster our own strength to do this. He is generous. He provides everything. He gives us His words at the appropriate moment. His spirit is willing….we just have to say “I will do it….for you, through you, to glorify you my Lord”

I pray that we see …Today. That we ask Him into each and every moment so that He can walk among His people and touch them as He desires….through us. His body.

With Love, in Christ,
Candace

These are words from an Elton John song called Healing Hands. Some times these lyrics resound in my heart as I go about among people.

“Reach out your healing hands, wade out into the waters. There is light where the darkness ends, reach out for the healing hand. Rock them, let them see again. Let them learn to love again.”

February 1, 2010

You Have Got to Get Back Up!

Dear Father,

Please forgive us of our many sins.. daily. Strengthen us, Father, so that we might not....will not stumble. Keep our eyes so tightly locked on you that all else fades from view. Show us our shortcomings so that we allow you to be even more present in this place. Allow our life to be totally consumed by your will, so that your will is increased to the point that it radiates your kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven.

Thank you for our provision, our abundance in the overflow of health, finances, relationships and peace. Let us, above all else to exhibit your joy, so that others see your face in a very real way - no matter what we are facing.

In Jesus Name, I pray this for myself and for everyone else lifting their voice in harmony as a blanket to cover all your creation Father; Amen.

Candace
ABLE To Love
" Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41



There is something we need to understand - it took me a very long time to realize this, and even though I now understand, it is sometime a struggle to exhibit true patience when living this out. With that being said; We must truly understand that being able to love another person does not mean that the other person is "able" to love us. Not that they do not desire to, or even believe that they do and possibly even think they are doing it well.

In one of my journals I was talking to God about this trying desperately to understand my pain, this is what I wrote:

I just don't know how to protect my heart Lord.......show me.
I only seem to desire to reach out and allow myself to be available...to get hurt.
Help me Father, to reach out to you instead, but help me understand all this.
I remembered when God was showing me back through a time when I was crying out to Him over a situation. He related to me that in actuality ...I was hurting myself because the person was not desiring to reach toward me....yet I kept reaching toward the person. Metaphorically the person kept slapping my hands away, to keep away from me . As I continued journaling these memories to God, I realized " This person wants to stand in my presence and fight me off watching me get frustrated and hurt, not because they wanted me to leave - it was only about power.  But they were not capable of caring about me, because it was all about them; they took up too much of their own field of vision."

God reminded me, " That is what Satan does he comes to destroy, just remember that is not of you....you did not cause that to happen."

My reply was this " So, help me God, because his words are deceptive." "You told us to guard ourselves against Satan's schemes....so lead me, instruct me, grow me in your wisdom and peace. I know you overcame more than what I am dealing with. Give me your full armor and show me how to be a mighty warrior through all that YOU are. I am not one that will shrink back to the destruction of my soul. I am a child of the Most High God!

Our Father created us and all is His. He needs us to take our place in His lineage to show others what all this means. He needs us to show others why it is so important to choose Life, to obey and follow.  They need to know how to rest in His peace; allowing Him to bring all to pass and His completion to be brought in."

After journaling I prayed: " I adore you Father and I will obey, I will follow. You have said it is so and I claim your precious words. Let it be as you have said "I AM".

Gods still, peaceful voice resounded in me casting all confusion away, " Fall on your knees, bow before Me". " and when you have done all to stand.....Then STAND in my strength"

From all this what I realized was that Satan was utilizing my and the other persons thoughts / actions to  stand in our presence and cause chaos. What God desires is for us to allow Him to utilize our mind and actions enabling Him to stand in our presence ushering in peace. He promises that His truth brings light into darkness and that all opposing forces must flee when He is in power.

Let us bring this to remembrance whenever the spiritual battle lines are drawn. God is not the defeated foe.....it is Satan. We are children of the Most High God and He said ALL victory is HIS...that means we win all battles. Don't look for your personal win, Look for God's win. They look very different. Allow God to train you up so that you will always recognize the enemy in your midst. 

Tomorrow we will go deeper into what the foe looks like, acts like and how to utilize your God given power to defend yourself.

 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.Galatians 5:1

With Love,
Candace