March 31, 2010

KB Emerge now up!

Due to the time it has taken to get our http://www.kaleidoscopebutterfly.org/ site up and running we have not been able to get http://www.kbemerge.org/ up yet either.  For now we have a secondary temporary site. 

We have our first devotional going out from that site.  We are trying to streamline things so that either can feed out.  If you did not receive it go to http://www.kbemerge.blogspot.com/ to view, and be sure to give me your feedback.

Have a wonderful day my friends!
Candace

March 30, 2010

Ministry in Word

Love Is a Beautiful Thing – Part 3
爱是一件美事 – 第三篇

Mark 14:6-9
马可 14:6-9

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached through-out the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
耶稣说:由他罢!为甚麽难为他呢?他在我身上作的是一件美事。因为常有穷人和你们同在,要向他们行善随时都可以;只是你们不常有我。他所作的,是尽他所能的;他是为我安葬的事把香膏预先浇在我身上。我实在告诉你们,普天之下,无论在甚麽地方传这福音,也要述说这女人所作的,以为记念。

Continued from Part 2
上接第二篇

Let’s look at another Old Testament hero, King David’s son King Solomon. He loved God. He also loved God’s people that he asked for God’s wisdom for him so that he could govern his people properly. Out of this love for God he led his people to build the beautiful temple and dedicated it to the Lord. Out of this love Solomon acted extravagantly at the dedication ceremony of the temple, offering to God a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred-twenty thousand sheep and goats. Talk about a grand gesture of one’s love! Just imagine how many days it must have taken to just process these many animal sacrifices!

让我们看一下另外一位旧约英雄,大卫王的儿子所罗门王。他爱神。他也爱神的子民,因此他求神赐给他神的智慧让他可以好好地统治他的子民。因为他对神的爱他领导他的子民去建造华丽的圣殿来献给神。因为所罗门对神的爱他奢侈地举行献殿礼,献上二万二千条牛和十二万绵羊与山羊的祭。这是表达一个人的爱多伟大的恣态啊!单是屠宰这麽多的祭物就要好几天了!

Our willingness to sacrifice shows our love for God. The extent of our sacrifice tells much about our love for God. Today we don’t offer animal sacrifice because Jesus Christ was the perfect and complete sacrifice for our sin. Instead today the sacrifices expected of us are FIRSTLY our total commitment for Christ as we are called to deny ourselves and take up our crosses and follow Christ (Mt 16:24-25), SECONDLY our lives of service to God because we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Ro 12:1), THIRDLY our sacrifice of praise which is the fruit of lips that confess His name (Heb 13:15), FOURTHLY good deeds and sharing with others of God’s blessings (Heb 13:16), and FIFTHLY the offering of money for use in God’s work (Php 4:18). Today we can offer sacrifices of these kinds to God extravagantly!

我们愿意牺牲就显出我们对神的爱,我们牺牲的程度很就很清楚显露我们对神的爱。今日我们不再献牲畜的祭因为耶稣基督是我们罪的完美的祭。今天神要求我们的祭首先是我们对基督的完全委身,因为我们受召来舍己背起我们的十字架来跟随基督〔太16:245〕,其次是我们对神服事的生命,因为我们要献上我们的身体作为活祭,是圣洁和讨神喜悦的〔罗12:1〕,第三是我们颂赞的祭,就是那承认主名之人嘴唇的果子〔来13:15〕,第四是行善和与人分享神的祝福〔来13:16〕,和第五是奉献金钱用在神的事工上〔腓4:18〕。今天我们可以奢侈地献这些祭给神!

SHE ACTED APPROPRIATELY
她恰当地行了

This woman acted IMPULSIVELY and EXTRAVAGANTLY in her surprise pouring of an expensive jar of perfume on Jesus’ head. She did it naturally out of her love for Jesus. Although others viewed her act as irrational, Jesus considered that she acted APPROPRIATELY in this incident.

这个妇人冲动、奢侈地出其不意浇了一瓶昂贵的香膏在耶稣头上。出于她对耶稣的爱她自然地这样做。虽然别人认为她的行动缺乏理性,耶稣却认为她在这事上做得很恰当。

She did not know it at the time, but Jesus was to be betrayed, handed over to the Romans, and crucified in a matter of days. Had she known that He was about to give Himself for mankind for their redemption,  wouldn’t she give Him her best gift? Of course she did it unknowingly, yet Jesus said she did it appropriately.

当时她并不知道耶稣就要被出卖,交到罗马人手上,几天内就被钉死在十字架上。如果她知道他快要为人类的救赎舍己的话,难道她不会给他她的最好的礼物吗?当然她不自觉做了,但耶稣仍说她做得很恰当。

We know she acted appropriately because Jesus said so. In light of some people rebuking her for her deed Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached through-out the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

我们知道她做得很恰当因为耶稣说是如此。因为有些人为她所行的责备她,耶稣就说:「由她罢!为甚麽难为她呢?她在我身上作的是一件美事。因为常有穷人和你们同在,要向他们行善随时都可以;只是你们不常有我。她所作的,是尽她所能的;她是为我安葬的事把香膏预先浇在我身上。我实在告诉你们,普天之下,无论在甚麽地方传这福音,也要述说这女人所作的,以为记念。」

She acted appropriately because Jesus was far more precious than the most expensive perfume. Out of God’s love for her, He gave His only Son, His most precious. So it is appropriate that out of her love for Christ, she gave Him her most valuable gift. He gave himself also for you and me, won’t we give our utmost for Him? This woman’s most valuable gift, and our utmost, cannot compare with God’s gift of His Son to us. But they are acceptable to God. Jesus said the woman “did what she could.” That’s all God is
asking us to do. Just what we can!

她做得很恰当因为耶稣比最名贵的香膏还要宝贵。因为神爱她,神赐下他的独生子,他最宝贝的。所以出于妇人对基督的爱她献给他她的最宝贵的礼物是恰当的。基督赐他自己给你与我,难道我们能不竭力为他吗?这位妇人最宝贵的礼物和我们所有的力量都不能与他赐我们他的儿子相比,但神接纳我们这些所献的。耶稣说这妇人「所作的,是尽她所能的」,这就是神要求我们去做的,只是尽我们所能的!

To be continued next week.
下周待续。
May we express our love for God impulsively, extravagantly, and appropriately. May we love God offering our sacrifice with what we can do.
愿我们冲动地、奢侈地和恰当地表达我们对神的爱。愿我们献上尽我们所能的祭去爱神。

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

Journey of the Kaleidoscope Butterfly: The Cause is Love

Journey of the Kaleidoscope Butterfly: The Cause is Love

The Cause is Love

There is only one cause and it is God ordained "Love". 

Each of us have a different effect on our world it is unique; something created within us to give.  Where ever you or your organization are wielding God's good will toward our fellow man, we would like to offer our hands and anything more that is available.  Give us a call, I pray we all unite for His glory and high calling.

Candace Huffmaster, Founder
Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc
a 501c3 in Georgia

It's Personal!

Personalize this as you read it. Might I suggest even being so bold as to say it out loud?

Father,
This is the day that you have given me; I will rejoice in it and BE GLAD!
You are all powerful, all wise and all love, You have equipped me for THIS day. This day is also the provision, for the day just up ahead, to train me and mature me, so all will go well.

For me to be all you desire, all I need is to persevere, my success is not my own, it is your hand forming the turns. All particles of the moments, radiate your love and light, your glory from the process, of me gleaning what you have taught. Nothing is ever wasted, no time will be cut short, that is the Love of the Father, and the culminating point. He merges all things together. He disperses in the need. The light into the darkness, the rescue into the pain, the deliverance into our bondage, the salvation into our soul, the spirit into eternity, the family into our home.

What are you now facing? Look into my face. See the moments before you, through the eyes of my love and grace.
Stand in the freedom I offer, take the peace and the joy. Release the pain and the bondage; the shards that cut your soul.
Put your hand in the one that was wounded~He was harmed that you might be free. No wound is deeper than His resurrection; no toil beyond my right hand.

Today Remember what you are facing, is the chance for Him to live. Allow His breath to overtake you. Allow His body to be released. Pray for Him in others. Pray we remember His Life. Pray we all come together. As one, there remains no more to fight.

With the Love of Christ, I cover us all,
Candace

March 29, 2010

Not I, but Christ that Lives

When reading this devotional,  I was reminded of Paul speaking in 1 Corinthians Chapter 2. He was telling them that he knows nothing but Christ and Him crucified. As we are being sanctified, refined and melded into His body there is this process which Oswald speaks of below. However, there is the point in time when we can say as Paul says, "It is not I but Christ that lives".


I pray that we make it through the "walking away from Christ" and into the "abiding 24/7 in Christ" and He in us. I pray that we allow Him through the Holy spirit to train us up in His ways, increasing our belief that it is so very good - and we can never choose to turn our backs on Him again.

Live this day in His love,
Candace


Our Lord’s Surprise Visits

You also be ready . . . —Luke 12:40

A Christian worker’s greatest need is a readiness to face Jesus Christ at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience has been. This battle is not against sin, difficulties, or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in our service to Jesus Christ that we are not ready to face Jesus Himself at every turn. The greatest need is not facing our beliefs or doctrines, or even facing the question of whether or not we are of any use to Him, but the need is to face Him.

Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical situations. The only way a servant can remain true to God is to be ready for the Lord’s surprise visits. This readiness will not be brought about by service, but through intense spiritual reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn. This sense of expectation will give our life the attitude of childlike wonder He wants it to have. If we are going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious. In other words, we must stop using religion as if it were some kind of a lofty lifestyle-we must be spiritually real.

If you are avoiding the call of the religious thinking of today’s world, and instead are "looking unto Jesus" ( Hebrews 12:2 ), setting your heart on what He wants, and thinking His thoughts, you will be considered impractical and a daydreamer. But when He suddenly appears in the work of the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. You should trust no one, and even ignore the finest saint on earth if he blocks your sight of Jesus Christ. by Oswald Chambers

March 28, 2010

Ordianry or Extra - Ordinary

The common thread, whether I am meeting one on one or groups is that "God's cause is for ordinary things to have an extraordinary purpose." There is not one creation that is an exception to this. The seeds become fruit, which becomes seed, which becomes fruit. The wind is simply a breeze and yet scatters seeds which later blossom and can also take down buildings and go back to being a breeze. A man is just a man, and a woman simply a woman but together...AHHHH we have another human being ...which is simply a man or a woman and on it goes.


Ordinary...or Extraordinary the choice is ours - the desire is His, but which will you choose? I pray you choose the Zoe life, I pray we all do each intersecting moment of our lives!

With love,
Candace





God Needs You!
Daily Bread an rbc.org daily devotion


READ: Mark 11:1-7

If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” say, “The Lord has need of it.” —Mark 11:3

For His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus chose a donkey to serve as His royal transportation. His disciples were instructed to say, “The Lord has need of it” (Mark 11:3). Isn’t it astounding that the Son of God should use such lowly means to accomplish His purposes? Alexander MacLaren commented on this: “Christ comes to us in like fashion, and brushes aside all our convenient excuses. He says, ‘I want you, and that is enough.’ ”



Think of it! The Creator of the universe needs us and desires to fit us into His eternal design! Though all-powerful and not dependent on any creature, He has chosen to carry out His plans through lowly human instruments. If this were not so, He would have taken us to heaven as soon as He saved us by His grace.



Someone once asked Francis of Assisi how he was able to accomplish so much. He replied, “This may be why: The Lord looked down from heaven and said, ‘Where can I find the weakest, littlest man on earth?’ Then He saw me and said, ‘I’ve found him. I will work through him, and he won’t be proud of it. He’ll see that I am only using him because of his insignificance.’ ”



You may be small in your own eyes, but God has need of you! — Paul Van Gorder



Yours is a mission you alone can fill,
Whether it be to build or teach or till;
Your goal may still be hidden from your view,
But somewhere God has urgent need of you. —Thayer

God is looking for ordinary people for extraordinary work.

March 26, 2010

Not Today!

I do not want to leave you guys high and dry today, but I am in need of some alone time with God. When we have done all to stand ...that is when the rubber hits the road in testing us. Do we cave in and quit as all the forces of Hell seem to be pummeling us or do we pick up our armor and say "You will not win, Oh heavy spirit of burden; Not Today!

I wrote this a few years ago when I was going through some similar, yet far more strenuous battles. I thought it was a good time to remind myself....and a good time to share.

You will not win, oh heavy spirit of burden "Not Today!"
Today, I fight!
Today ,I fight the good fight,
Today ,I fight the righteous fight.
Today, I overcome,
Today, I lead in battle,
Today, my strongholds are broken,
Today, my spirit stands true
Today, I hear your voice,
        and today your victory is true
Today, I fight for YOU!


Isaiah 42
This is what the LORD God says: I, the LORD, have called you to do what is right.I will take hold of your hand.I will protect you.I will appoint you as my promise to the people, You will give sight to the blind,bring prisoners out of prisons,and bring those who live in darkness out of dungeons.  I am the LORD; that is my name.I will not give my glory to anyone else or the praise I deserve to idols.  What I said in the past has come true. I will reveal new things before they happen.

March 25, 2010

Ministery in Word

Love Is a Beautiful Thing – Part 2
爱是一件美事 – 第二篇



Mark 14:6-9
马可 14:6-9

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached through-out the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
耶稣说:由他罢!为甚麽难为他呢?他在我身上作的是一件美事。因为常有穷人和你们同在,要向他们行善随时都可以;只是你们不常有我。他所作的,是尽他所能的;他是为我安葬的事把香膏预先浇在我身上。我实在告诉你们,普天之下,无论在甚麽地方传这福音,也要述说这女人所作的,以为记念。

Continued from Part 1
上接第一篇

King David in the Old Testament was such a person. He had a personal relationship with God. He experienced God and His protection in his youth tending sheep, fighting off lions and bears. He experienced God and His power when he killed the nine-foot tall Philistine giant with one small stone. God called him a person after God’s own heart. He knew God in his mind, and he let his love for God carry him beyond himself when he brought the ark to Jerusalem!
旧约中的大卫王就是这样的一个人。他与神有一个个人的关糸。在他年青牧羊,赶走狮子和熊的时候,他经历到神与神的保护。当他用一粒小石头杀死九尺高的非利士巨人的时候,他经历到神与神的大能。神称他为合乎神自己心意的人。他心中认识神,当他把约柜运到耶路撒冷时他让他对神的爱带他到情不自禁的地步!

The ark was captured by the Philistines when Israel lost their battle back in Prophet Samuel’s childhood days. It was later returned to Israel by the Philistines. It was left in Abinadab’s house for decades. After David became king of all of Israel he decided to bring the ark to Jerusalem. David said to God in Psalm 18:1, “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” David loved God so much that “he danced before the Lord with all his might,” while he led the procession of bringing the ark to Jerusalem (2 Sa 6:12-15). He was not only dancing, but dancing with all his might, even though it might not be considered proper for a king to do that. He did that impulsively, with his love for the Lord carrying him beyond himself. Even his wife Michal, daughter of Saul, thought David’s action was out of line and she despised him for doing that. But David loved the Lord and all he cared was that he danced for the Lord.
在先知撒母耳童年时非利士人战败以色列并掳去约柜。非利士人後来把它送回以色列,几十年来留在俄别以东家中。大卫成为全以色列的王後他决定要把约柜搬到耶路撒冷。大卫在诗篇18:1对神说,「耶和华,我的力量啊,我爱你!」大卫爱神以至他在带队领约柜到耶路撒冷时「在耶和华面前极力跳舞。」〔撒下6:1215〕他不单只是跳舞,而是极力跳舞,虽然可能被认为是一件国王做来不体面的事。他一时冲动行了这事,他对耶和华的爱使他情不自禁。什至他的妻子,扫罗的女儿米甲,认为大卫的行为太过份因此轻视他。但大卫爱耶和华,他看重的就是他为神跳舞。

When we are deeply in love with God we could be carried away to do something for God not dutifully but impulsively. Not for any reason other than the fact that we love Him.
当我们深深地爱神我们可能情不自禁地为神做出一些事,并非出于责任感而是出于冲动的。只因为我们爱他,并没有其他理由。

SHE ACTED EXTRAVAGANTLY
她奢侈地行了

Not only did the woman acted IMPULSIVELY, she also acted EXTRAVAGANTLY. She broke the alabaster jar of VERY expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and poured it on Jesus’ head. She broke the jar; she didn’t just open it. She had decided to pour out the whole jar of perfume. Not quarter jar, half jar, or even three-quarter jar, but the whole jar of perfume. She emptied the jar, poured out every drop of perfume onto Jesus’ head. She didn’t save any for herself. And it was no ordinary perfume, but an expensive one. It cost a person over a year’s wage to buy it. Since women in those days were rarely able to earn much money, this expensive perfume might have been a family treasure passed down to her. So this was valuable to her and she knew it. But just like that, she used it all on Jesus. Just because she loved Jesus.
这妇人不单冲动而行,她也奢侈地行了这事。她打破一个玉瓶的非常昂贵真哪哒香膏,浇到耶稣头上。她打破瓶子,不只是打开它,她决定要倒出整瓶香膏。不是四分之一瓶,不是半瓶,不是四分之三瓶,而是一整瓶香膏。她倒空瓶子,浇了每一滴香膏到耶稣头上,她并没有为自己保留一些。那并非一般的香膏,而是一种很名贵的,需要一个人超边一年的工资才买到。因为在那时代妇人罕有赚钱的能力,这昂贵的香膏可能是她的家传宝物,所以她知道这是对她价值很高的。但就这麽简单的她全用在耶稣身上。就只因为她爱耶稣。

We must realize that we can bring to God things which are of value to Him. There are many things that we may do that are dear to His heart. Not great and marvelous things but ordinary, simple human things; things that give evidence to God that we are abandoned to Him, something straight from our hearts to touch His heart. Just like this woman did.
我们必须知道我们有能力献给神对他有价值的东西。有很多事情我们可能做到而又是神所爱的。不是伟大了不起的事,而是普通,简单,人做的事,一些向神证明我们为他舍己的事,一些直接出于我们的心来感动他的心的事。就如这妇人所作的一样。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we express our love for God impulsively and extravagantly, beyond intellect and duty. May we love God so much that it carries us beyond ourselves.
愿我们冲动地和奢侈地表达我们对神的爱,超越理智和义务。愿我们爱神爱到情不自禁。

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__

March 24, 2010

Conversations with my Dad

Since about 2003 or 2004 I have been journaling questions about the bible, my past and my future.  It started out of a state of chaos and confusion.  I was desperately trying to find some logic and direction for why my best laid plans were train wrecks.  It did not matter if the train wrecked due to me or someone in my life....I just wanted to derail the train and sit in the field for awhile.  So I did! 

I took a long walk along the rails, I visited with many days gone by and saw them differently this time.  I put many relationships to rest and through it all God was walking with me explaining things.  So, today instead of utilizing someone elses words, thoughts and journey.  I am stepping out and sharing something from my journal of my relationship evolution with our Lord.  If you'd like me to share more, I will be happy to.

I have found that He shares things with me, not just for me - when it says I or you in my journal He means this is for you and you are to share and tell them "I mean them too".  Nothing is ever simply for us, it for US to give away to someone in need.  So if you want to hear what I believe He has to say to YOU.....read on in faith and believe that our Lord, our God and His Spirit are very real and among us.

March 24, 2010
I cannot live, Zoe life, without living in and through you Fahter.  My body is part of Your body "Christ", and My ability is flowing from Your spirit, You drench me, Strengthen me, Equip me each morning flowing with peace, love, unity, to joyfully set your help, relationship and empowerment each day.  I thank you for all things. 
This day radiates of your beauty.  It is enlivened by your love which is your good will toward us, your family.  I understand that it is more than our disconnected sense of family~You mean Unity, Oneness the lack of incomplete in any form.  There is nothing lacking in you.  There is no need unfulfilled, because that would be unloving and you do not have a lack of Agape Love.  Share at your will Father.  I desire your mind, actions, your presence so that I may give it to everyone.  You are Lord God Almighty and All things Are~because of You...you are YHWH, Omnipresent, Unity
Hmmm, enlighten me Father....

Look at this day
Each particle has life
Truth is in each of them
No one can doubt

Bursting from nowhere,
    life running free
Explosion of colors,
    fragrance and sound
The radiance of the sunlight,
   enhances the depth
The heat and the vapor penetrate deep

Something from nothing,
   or so it seems
Science will explain it,
     but misses some things
Men know, as I gift them,
     piece up on piece
Only I complete the picture
My eyes are the pair that see

Everyone wonders,
    that's the gift of a view
Thoughts raise questions
    when asked, I relate
Wisdom is spoken,
    knowledge battles truth
When wise and discerning,
    enlightenment occures
Ponder the possibilites,
    take a chance on the unknown
Experience true freedom
    the adventure of "Life"
Listen to your future,
    don't plan from the past
Take caution when I tell you,
    I raise the flags

The Spirit knows all things
I send the depths into you
Don't question my revelations
Don't hold when I say give
Nothing is wasted
All things become New

"Something From Nothing"
    or so to them, it will seem
"Explosion into their reality"
    a vision of grace
My Mercy planted
My Son penetrates
The vapor of My people together will explain
Feel the warmth as you go
Today is YOUR day
Step out on My wind
Release what you know
My word is not void, it fulfills all things
And you are my messengers,
     "Angels with Wings"

Thank you Father, I thank you for a voice, a gift and your grace.  Without them I am a pauper...with them I have all things.
Kisses in Christ,
Candace

Live Christ,
      in my stead
Touch them so that they too can see
Heal them, in you
Realease them whole, our body expanded,
      gathering the meal
To prepare such a harvest,
      for all to be fed
Multiply your abilities
Breathe the Fathers Breath
Raise us up Your nation
    For all to bless
So Be It -
Your Kingdom Come
Your Will Be Done
On Earth as it is in Heaven.
Send us ~ In Spirit ~In Flesh
Cover this place,
Bind the unholy, crush every foe
Release the captives.....They must be let Go.
I pray all this with the heart of Christ and know it is your will so it is done - Amen


 

March 23, 2010

Heavens Scent - We are the top notes, God is the base note which lingers

(Gods Word Translation )2 Corinthians 2: 14 But I thank God, who always leads us in victory because of Christ. Wherever we go, God uses us to make clear what it means to know Christ. It’s like a fragrance that fills the air. 15 To God we are the aroma of Christ among those who are saved and among those who are dying. 16 To some people we are a deadly fragrance, while to others we are a life-giving fragrance.Who is qualified to tell about Christ? 17 At least we don’t go around selling an impure word of God like many others. The opposite is true. As Christ’s spokesmen and in God’s presence, we speak the pure message that comes from God.



Signature Scent
Our Daily Bread Devotional www.rbc.org



Through us [God] diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. —2 Corinthians 2:14

You can’t see it, hear it, or touch it, but scent is powerful. The smell of things like crayons, petunias, and colognes evoke memories that transport me to the past and bring to mind people and places I might not otherwise recall.

Some celebrities have fragrances named after them. Fans can identify with an actress or singer by dabbing on the scent bearing her name. Along those lines, Ladies Home Journal published a quiz to help readers determine the perfect fragrance for them. The idea is that every woman, to be memorable, should have a specific scent associated with her.
The idea of a signature scent is not new. God introduced it as part of worship. In the tabernacle, a certain scent was to be associated with the Lord (Ex. 30:34-35). The people were forbidden to use this fragrance for anything but worship (vv.37-38).
This idea continues under the new covenant, but with a stunning difference. Instead of using incense to make people think of Him, God uses Christians as His “signature scent” to the world (2 Cor. 2:14-15). The fact that God identifies Himself with us in such a powerful way is a truly humbling thought, and causes me to ask, “What do people think about God as a result of being around me?” — Julie Ackerman Link

When we’ve been alone with Jesus,
There’s a difference others know;
And to them it’s like a fragrance
That we leave where’er we go. —Hess

A life lived for God has a pleasing aroma.

March 21, 2010

A Really Hearty Meal

Good Morning -
The depth of Oswald Chambers wisdom never ceases to amaze me. He articulates spiritual thoughts with such heights of clarity that I can truly say without a doubt, I have heard the truth of God as I read.

May the peace that surpasses all understanding blanket you as you read, comprehend and digest all that is written.
In Christ,
Candace







Identified or Simply Interested?

I have been crucified with Christ . . . —Galatians 2:20

 
The inescapable spiritual need each of us has is the need to sign the death certificate of our sin nature. I must take my emotional opinions and intellectual beliefs and be willing to turn them into a moral verdict against the nature of sin; that is, against any claim I have to my right to myself. Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ . . . ." He did not say, "I have made a determination to imitate Jesus Christ," or, "I will really make an effort to follow Him"-but-"I have been identified with Him in His death." Once I reach this moral decision and act on it, all that Christ accomplished for me on the Cross is accomplished in me. My unrestrained commitment of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to grant to me the holiness of Jesus Christ.

". . . it is no longer I who live . . . ." My individuality remains, but my primary motivation for living and the nature that rules me are radically changed. I have the same human body, but the old satanic right to myself has been destroyed.

". . . and the life which I now live in the flesh," not the life which I long to live or even pray that I live, but the life I now live in my mortal flesh-the life which others can see, "I live by faith in the Son of God . . . ." This faith was not Paul’s own faith in Jesus Christ, but the faith the Son God had given to him (see Ephesians 2:8 ). It is no longer a faith in faith, but a faith that transcends all imaginable limits-a faith that comes only from the Son of God. By Oswald Chambers

March 20, 2010

Who Said That!

Daily Strength By Joe Stowell
www.rbc.org

Voices

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

Hearing voices has to be the most haunting of all the mental disorders. After all, which voice do you listen to? Talk about massive confusion! But before you think that you are among the blessed ones who don’t hear voices, think again. Today will be full of voices that compete for a piece of your life. Your boss, your spouse, your children, close friends, advertisements, and talk shows all will bombard your psyche with conflicting advice or demands.

It’s not just the voices on the outside. No matter how sane you think you are, we all have inner voices that compete for control; voices that are not always positive. I confess to hearing the compelling whispers of the dark side of my heart on a regular basis. Whispers that advise and plan ways for me to live for my own advantage. Whispers that convincingly argue that a life lived by the lure of my desires is life at its best. Whispers that tell me I am clever enough not to get caught, that nobody is perfect, that God understands my weakness and will forgive me. Tell me that I am not alone and that you can identify!

I have learned that when those kinds of inner voices dominate, I often look back in regret and shame for letting them grab the control levers of my life. They promise me life at its best but consistently leave me empty, disappointed, guilty and embarrassed.

That’s why I am forever grateful that there is a voice within that I can trust. A single voice that puts all the other voices into perspective. A voice that speaks wisdom clearly and confidently. A voice that has my best interest in mind and wants to lead me to life at its best.

Over the years as I have followed the advice and counsel of that voice, I have never been disappointed. It hasn’t always been easy advice, and sometimes it hasn’t made a lot of sense—like telling me that I should forgive someone who has hurt me or that I need to die to myself—but it has reliably been the right advice.

It’s the voice of Jesus. When you get on line in your heart to hear His voice and His alone, you will be liberated from the conflicting voices that in the end you really can’t trust. Thankfully, He has given you all the equipment you need. Talk about high tech! The indwelling Holy Spirit actually lives within you to decode God’s Word as you read it. He speaks to your mind, heart, and conscience as your eyes scan the lines of the bestselling how-to-live book ever written.

So put the “earbuds” in and tune to the one frequency where you are loved and led to life as God meant it be—life at it’s best!
Remember, His is the only voice you can finally and fully trust. He loves you and died to prove it!

Download and live!

March 17, 2010

Let's Give 'em a Hand

Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10,12 (God's Word Trans) Two people are better than one because together they have a good reward for their hard work. If one falls the other can help his friend get up. But how tragic it is for the one who is all alone when he falls. There is no one to help him get up. Though one person may be overpowered by another, two people can resist one opponent. A triple-braided rope is not easily broken.


Psalm 46:1(GWT)  God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in times of trouble.

When I read these verses I remember when He told Joshua that He would be with him just as He was with Moses. He promised Joshua that He would NEVER neglect him or abandon him. But one thing we must remember is OUR part. What is that you ask? Good question. The answer is to be faithful to God above all else, seek Him diligently, know His word and do as He commanded us "Be strong and courageous! Don't tremble or be terrified, because the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go."

I pray that we believe in Him that is with us not against us so that we will not shrink back to the destruction of our souls. I pray that we forgive those that have opposed us and that we accept His desire to be our cord that is not easily broken.
With love,
Candace


A Good God
Daily Bread an RBC devotional (http://www.rbc.org/)

READ: Psalm 46
The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. —Psalm 9:9

 
When my brother-in-law was a missionary in Mali, West Africa, he was involved in a traffic accident. A man had wandered into the road in front of Chuck’s motorcycle. The cycle struck the man and sent Chuck and the bike sliding along the ground for more than 200 feet. Shortly after Chuck regained consciousness in the hospital, his doctor told him he had been “really lucky.” Chuck smiled and replied, “God is good.”
Later he thought about the day’s events. The man who was struck hadn't received any permanent injuries, and Chuck would also recover from his injuries. But what if one of them had been killed? He thought, God would be no less good.

When we experience tragedy, we may wonder about God’s goodness. Is God always good? Yes, He is. He doesn't promise that bad things will never happen to us, but He does promise to be “our refuge and  strength” (Ps. 46:1). He doesn’t promise that we will never walk through heart-wrenching circumstances, but He promises that we won’t be alone (23:4).
God is good—no matter what suffering we are experiencing. Even when we don’t understand, we can say with Habakkuk, “Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (3:18). — Cindy Hess Kasper

O taste and see that God is good
To all who seek His face;
Yea, blest the one who trusts in Him,
Confiding in His grace. —Psalter


God tests our faith so that we may trust His faithfulness.

Ministry in Word

Love Is a Beautiful Thing – Part 1
爱是一件美事 – 第一篇

Mark 14:6-9
马可 14:6-9
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached through-out the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

耶稣说:由他罢!为甚麽难为他呢?他在我身上作的是一件美事。因为常有穷人和你们同在,要向他们行善随时都可以;只是你们不常有我。他所作的,是尽他所能的;他是为我安葬的事把香膏预先浇在我身上。我实在告诉你们,普天之下,无论在甚麽地方传这福音,也要述说这女人所作的,以为记念。


STORY OF LOVE
爱的故事

The Gospel of Mark, chapter 14, verses 1 to 9 recorded a remarkable story of a woman honoring Jesus with an expensive jar of perfume. Since today is Valentine’s Day, I thought it is appropriate to talk about this story, because it is a story about love.
马可福音第十四章一至九节记载了一个异常的故事,是关于一位妇人以一瓶贵重的香膏向耶稣表示爱戴。既然今天是情人节〔瓦伦丁日〕,我觉得讲述这故事是很恰当的,因为那是一个爱的故事。

We have heard of the expression “love is blind”, that is, when people are in love, they are blind to each other’s flaws. When in love she is always beautiful to him and he is always handsome to her. They may not be completely blind; they may know that their beloved are not perfect. But they believe love can transform their beloved into ideal perfection. When people are in love, sometimes they sure behave irrationally. This was what the people thought of the woman in today’s story. They thought that she acted irrationally. Let’s see what she did that made them think so. Here is how the story goes.
我们有听过「爱情是盲目的」这句话,意思是指当人在恋爱中他们看不见彼此的缺陷。在爱中她在他眼中永远是美丽的,而他在她眼中永远是英俊的。他们可能不是完全盲目,他们也许知道他们所爱的人并非完美。不过他们相信爱情能改变他们所爱的人进入理想的完美中。恋爱中的人有时真的表现不合理。这就是人们对今天故事中的妇人的看法,他们认为她的行动不理智。认我们看看她做了什麽使他们有此定论。故事发生如下。



It was 2 days before the Passover, Jesus and His disciples were in the town of Bethany. They were at Simon the Leper’s home for a party. Simon the Leper was probably a leper healed by Jesus, and he entertained Jesus and others at his home. All of a sudden a woman came in carrying an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She went up to Jesus, broke the jar, and poured out this expensive perfume onto Jesus’ head. The perfume made of the extract of this plant called nard must be well known for its high price, because some of the people there were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.”
再过两天就是逾越节了,耶稣与他的门徒来到伯大尼城,他们在长大麻疯的西门家坐席。西门的大麻疯可能得到耶稣的医治,他就在他家里招待耶稣和其他客人。突然间一位妇人进来,带着一玉瓶至贵的真哪哒香膏。她到耶稣跟前,打破玉瓶,把香膏浇在耶稣的头上。这从哪哒植物提链出来的香膏一定是有名的昂贵,因为有几个人心中很不喜悦,说:「何用这样枉费香膏呢?这香膏可以卖三十多两银子周济穷人。」

They rebuked her harshly because they thought she acted unwisely. Why would she use such expensive perfume on Jesus? Why used the whole jar? Why on such occasion? If she wanted to do a good deed, why not sell it and give the money to the poor? They think she acted irrationally.
他们就向那妇人生气因为他们认为她的行动不智为何她要用这般名贵的香膏在耶稣身上呢?为何要用整瓶呢?为何在此场合呢?如果她要做一件好事为何不卖了它,把钱周济穷人呢?

SHE ACTED IMPULSIVELY
她冲动地行了

Yes, the woman acted irrationally because she loved Jesus. She loved Jesus so much that she acted IMPULSIVELY that day. She loved Jesus so much that she came into Simon’s home in the midst of his party without an invitation. Not only that, according to the custom of the time there was no place for a woman at a party. Besides, she didn’t ask for Jesus’ permission to apply the perfume on Him. It was a spontaneous, lavish gift poured upon the Lord’s body out of her love for Him. When a person is in love, it must carry her beyond herself. Oswald Chambers says, “If love is always discreet, always wise, always sensible and calculating, never carried beyond itself, it is not love at all. It may be affection, it may be warmth of feeling, but it has not the true nature of love in it.” It is good and important to know Christ intellectually, but it is also necessary to know Christ emotionally. This is how one’s love for God should be!
对,这妇人无理性地做了这事因为她爱耶稣。她极爱耶稣到当天她冲动地如此行了。她极爱耶稣到她不请自来西门家中的宴会。不单如此,按当时的风俗妇女是不该在宴会中。况且她没有先得到耶稣的许可才浇上香膏。那是出于她对耶稣的爱的自发慷慨的礼物浇在主的身上。当一个人在爱中,会有情不自禁的现象。奧斯瓦爾德章伯斯说,「如果爱是完全慎重,完全智慧,完全合理和计算清楚,永不会情不自禁的话,那就一定不是爱。它可能是感情,它可能是些微感动,但它缺少爱的真缔在其中。」以理智来认识基督是好的也是重要的,但也须耍在感情上认识基督。一个人对神的爱该是如此!

To be continued next week.
下周待续。



May we experience God’s love deeply, know God both intellectually and emotionally. May we love God so much that it carries us beyond ourselves.
愿我们深深地经历神的爱,在理智上和感情上认识神。愿我们爱神爱到情不自禁。

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

March 16, 2010

Shouldn't "Living Under the Influence" Carry a Stiffer Penalty that DUI?

In Isaiah 26 the prophet is speaking of our minds and how we much change them from the intoxicated thoughts of the world which embed themselves in our flesh, to the level or sober thoughts of the spirit which are never changing and consistent. We are told to pray for our spirit to prosper even as our soul prospers. We are told that God's ways (which are spirit) are higher than our ways. So if we are to gain understanding of His ways to walk in them, we must judge our own thoughts...each of them, holding them captive to evaluate them. Then, if they are false we must cast them down.

"26:7-11 The path of the righteous is level, O Upright One, yo make the road of the righteous smooth. Certainly, we wait wit hope for you, O Lord, as we follow the path of your guiding principles. We want to remember you and your name, Wit my soul I long for you at night. Yes, with my spirit I eagerly look for you. When your guiding principles are on earth, those who live in the world learn to do what is right. Although the wicked are shown pity, they do not learn to do what is right. They do what is wrong in the upright land and do not see the majesty of the Lord. O Lord, your power is visible, but they do not see it. They will see how devoted your people are, and they will be put to shame."


I pray for us this day, that we walk in sobriety to the thoughts of this world so that others might see, be put to shame as they realize not us, but the Lord and turn to him. May we all see clearly, today, the ways of the Lord.

I thank Him for His example and those following Him so that we too could see and feel the shame, turn to Him and be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

With Love in Christ,
Candace



The Master Will Judge

We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ . . . —2 Corinthians 5:10

Paul says that we must all, preachers and other people alike, "appear before the judgment seat of Christ." But if you will learn here and now to live under the scrutiny of Christ’s pure light, your final judgment will bring you only delight in seeing the work God has done in you. Live constantly reminding yourself of the judgment seat of Christ, and walk in the knowledge of the holiness He has given you. Tolerating a wrong attitude toward another person causes you to follow the spirit of the devil, no matter how saintly you are. One carnal judgment of another person only serves the purposes of hell in you. Bring it immediately into the light and confess, "Oh, Lord, I have been guilty there." If you don't, your heart will become hardened through and through. One of the penalties of sin is our acceptance of it. It is not only God who punishes for sin, but sin establishes itself in the sinner and takes its toll. No struggling or praying will enable you to stop doing certain things, and the penalty of sin is that you gradually get used to it, until you finally come to the place where you no longer even realize that it is sin. No power, except the power that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit, can change or prevent the inherent consequences of sin.

"If we walk in the light as He is in the light. . ." ( 1 John 1:7 ). For many of us, walking in the light means walking according to the standard we have set up for another person. The deadliest attitude of the Pharisees that we exhibit today is not hypocrisy but that which comes from unconsciously living a lie. by Oswald Chambers

March 15, 2010

Christ I Know; Who are You?

The Discipline of Dismay


As they followed they were afraid —Mark 10:32

At the beginning of our life with Jesus Christ, we were sure we knew all there was to know about following Him. It was a delight to forsake everything else and to throw ourselves before Him in a fearless statement of love. But now we are not quite so sure. Jesus is far ahead of us and is beginning to seem different and unfamiliar— "Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed" (Mark 10:32 ).

There is an aspect of Jesus that chills even a disciple’s heart to its depth and makes his entire spiritual life gasp for air. This unusual Person with His face set "like a flint" (Isaiah 50:7 ) is walking with great determination ahead of me, and He strikes terror right through me. He no longer seems to be my Counselor and Friend and has a point of view about which I know nothing. All I can do is stand and stare at Him in amazement. At first I was confident that I understood Him, but now I am not so sure. I begin to realize that there is a distance between Jesus and me and I can no longer be intimate with Him. I have no idea where He is going, and the goal has become strangely distant.

Jesus Christ had to understand fully every sin and sorrow that human beings could experience, and that is what makes Him seem unfamiliar. When we see this aspect of Him, we realize we really don’t know Him. We don’t recognize even one characteristic of His life, and we don’t know how to begin to follow Him. He is far ahead of us, a Leader who seems totally unfamiliar, and we have no friendship with Him.
The discipline of dismay is an essential lesson which a disciple must learn. The danger is that we tend to look back on our times of obedience and on our past sacrifices to God in an effort to keep our enthusiasm for Him strong (see Isaiah 1:10-11 ). But when the darkness of dismay comes, endure until it is over, because out of it will come the ability to follow Jesus truly, which brings inexpressibly wonderful joy. By Oswald Chambers



Today I thought I would share another poem with you all. This one is so fitting for Oswalds devotion.



Proper Prospective by the Water’s Edge
– Reflections of a still heart

Be still my child; know that I am God
Come here, walk with me, reach for my hand
I have been calling you to be by my side
Still waters to calm you run through your path
All tensions drift, as you hold firm my hand

Rest deep as the waters, which have no beginning or end
Twisting and turning, rolling inward and flowing out
Time is a continuum, plunging deep while running out
Years into seconds, to turn back the hand of time
A wish from the sorrowful, there is a lesson to learn
To return a wave, requires an earth movement; which is no simple task
For man it is impossible through his lifeless hand
My hand, however, has strength yours cannot comprehend

To stop the world from turning, just watch and understand
I think and it happens, because love knows no bounds
When flowing like water, it quenches the driest of sand
Time is the shoreline, the boundary for us all
Its water the lifeblood running throughout each soul
Knowledge is power, the heartbeat understands
Energy is the motion to pump over and beyond
The spirit propels each vision, empowering good and halting the bad

Sit by my still waters; come near to contemplate life
Listen to the babbling of the years that you’ve passed by
Listen to all the laughter, forget all of the pain
Joy is through my spirit and peace is in my right hand

Lengthen your own shoreline to take more water in
Deepen your own tide pool, so that you may understand
Dive in with a deep breath, then kick hard to reach the top
Breath in all that freshness, as your face burst through the wet
Emerge a new life form, cleansed from your past

Walk as the righteous, upright and straight ahead
Now you can see forward, when looking behind
So wait for proper prospective, before standing to leave
Always focus your pathway, designed from my lead
By Candace Huffmaster

March 14, 2010

Yield to Right of Way

This perfectly reiterates our discussions last Friday on Boundaries and the signs that we post.  This verse from Romans also depicts "Love Angles". If you cannot find the information in the archives to the left, e-mail me and I will send you the notes.

Romans 6:16 (Amplified Translation)
Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness (right doing and right standing with God)?

Yielding


The first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because somewhere in the past I yielded to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because at some point in my life I yielded myself to Him.

If a child gives in to selfishness, he will find it to be the most enslaving tyranny on earth. There is no power within the human soul itself that is capable of breaking the bondage of the nature created by yielding. For example, yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust, and although you may hate yourself for having yielded, you become enslaved to that thing. (Remember what lust is— "I must have it now," whether it is the lust of the flesh or the lust of the mind.) No release or escape from it will ever come from any human power, but only through the power of redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. ". . . He has anointed Me . . . to proclaim liberty to the captives . . ." ( Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1 ).

When you yield to something, you will soon realize the tremendous control it has over you. Even though you say, "Oh, I can give up that habit whenever I like," you will know you can’t. You will find that the habit absolutely dominates you because you willingly yielded to it. It is easy to sing, "He will break every fetter," while at the same time living a life of obvious slavery to yourself. But yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any person’s life. by Oswald Chambers
It is hard when we have to grow through experiences which are intended to show us that we are now safe and do not need to protect ourselves from the people that misused power or neglected to love and protect us while we were vulnerable to their dominance. I know that God loves us and wants what is best for us. Knowing that caused me to try really hard to understand why, when I was doing nothing wrong but protecting and respecting myself were all these bad situations happening. What he loving showed me was that although I had survived bad situations I had tried to handle them in my own strength and understanding. I was in danger and treated unloving at times, however He had rescued and delivered me from that so that I could live a better life. If I had continued to lives as though I were not free from that, I would never have received my freedom. I would have been free and living as a prisoner to those that I had been liberated from.

I pray that we all live in the liberty that Christ has given us.
With love,
Candace

Ministry in Word

The Ways and the Paths – Part 5
道与路 – 第五部
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。」


David asked God to show him His ways and guide him in His truth, because God was his Savior, and his hope was in Him and he depended on God all the time of the day. There is not a moment of David’s life he needed not rely on God. In just a slight lapse of his dependence on God, he committed adultery and murder with grave consequences in his life. We too, cannot for a moment put our hope in our strength and wisdom instead of in God, or we will stumble and fall, and will suffer the consequence.
大卫求神将神的道指示他,以神的真理引导他,因为他是救他的神,他终日等候神和倚靠神。在大卫的生命中没有一刹那他不须要倚靠神,只是一次没有倚靠神他就犯了奸淫和谋杀罪,引起他生命中严重的後果。我们同样一刻都不能寄望我们的力量和智慧而不寄望神,不然我们会跌倒和面对那後果。


REMEMBER ME
记念我

However, David also pleaded with God, saying, “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.”
不过大卫也央求神说,「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。」

Because David knew how frail he was morally and spiritually, even though physically he was a great warrior. He knew that having learned God’s purpose for his life, having been shown God’s ways and God’s paths, even with God’s guidance, he was still prone to sin and falter in his walk. David knew that he could not present himself to God in his unrighteous state, just as he cried out to God in Psalm 51:1-2, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my ransgressions”, in here he called on God’s mercy and love to look not on his sins but to look on the reflection of God Himself in him.
虽然他在体能上是一位了不起的战士,大卫知道在道德和灵性上他是多麽软弱。他知道虽然认识神在他生命中的目的,得到指示神的道路,甚至得到神的引导,他仍有犯罪的倾向和品行上不稳定。大卫知道以他不义之状态他不能见神,就如他在诗篇51:1-2向神呼求说,「神啊,求你按你的慈爱怜恤我!按你丰盛的慈悲涂抹我的过犯!求你将我的罪孽洗除净尽,并洁除我的罪!」他在这里呼求神的怜恤与慈爱,不看他的罪而看他身上神自己的反照。
Isaiah 53:6 says, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Like David, we know our transgressions, and our sin is always before us (Ps 51:3). Even though God has shown us His purpose, His ways and paths, and He has guided us in the way we should go, often we are acting like the stubborn and ignorant horse or mule, against God’s purpose, God’s ways, and God’s guidance. We fail but God’s love fails not. We fail but God’s mercy fails not. They are from of old, for God Himself changes not. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to save us so we may be restored to God, and He no longer remembers our sin but Christ’s imputed goodness in us.
以赛亚书53:6说,「我们都如羊走迷;各人偏行己路;耶和华使我们众人的罪孽都归在他身上。」就如大卫我们知道自己的过犯和罪常在我们面前〔诗51:3〕。虽然神己经指示他的目的和他的道路,和他己经引导我们该行的路,我们还是常常像那顽固无知的骡马一样,抗拒神的目的,神的方法和神的引导。我们失败但神的爱永不失败,我们失败但神的怜悯永不失败。它们是亘古以来所常有的,因为神永不改变。他差遣他的儿子耶稣基督来救我们让我们恢复与神的关系,他不再记念我们的罪,只记得基督转移给我们的良善。

Let us learn of His ways and His paths and be guided in His truth. Let us put our hope in
God all the days of our life. Amen.
让我们学习他的道路和接受他真理的引导。让我们一生每天都等候神,阿门。

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

March 10, 2010

Some-thing, No-thing, All Things

For those of us that have freedom in Christ, is it so large a thing to bear with those that are confused and hurting. What if in that moment we were to share of the liberty and hope that comes through Christ? What if we explained that "all things are possible through Him"? What if we simply paused to listen and care - allowing Christ to fill their presence as we pray over them, whether silently as they speak or in union with them.

So many options, so many needs.....the spirit is willing, it is the flesh that is weak.

God I pray that your spirit rise up in us, your angels run before us to prepare the way and we witness to all that you are for your names sake.

In Christ,
Candace Huffmaster

To The Rescue
www.rbc.org daily devotional by Joe Stowell

READ: Luke 15:1-7 There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. —Luke 15:7

Martie and I recently traveled to some major cities in several countries. We were struck with how lost our world is and grieved over the millions who have never heard the message of the saving grace of Jesus. The thought of reaching our world for Christ felt overwhelming.

Until I remembered the story of the boy walking on a beach. Encountering hundreds of starfish dying under the heat of the burning sun, he started throwing them back into the sea. A passerby asked, “What are you doing?” “Saving their lives,” the boy replied. “Forget it,” the man said. “You can’t possibly save all these starfish.” “Right,” replied the boy, “but it makes a big difference to each one I do save.”
I love the boy’s perspective. When the wave of sin threw us onto the shore to die, God sent His Son to walk on the beach to rescue all who would repent. And, as Jesus told His listeners in Luke 15, each time someone is rescued, heaven throws a party. “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).
Has heaven rejoiced over your rescue? If so, join the ranks of those who reach other lost souls with the rescuing grace of Jesus.

Your love, O God, would spare no pain
To conquer death and win;
You sent Your only Son to die
To rescue us from sin. —M. Gustafson

When you’ve been rescued, you’ll want to rescue others.

Do Your Thoughts Make you Walk the Plank?

Walking with Jesus is not easy, I thank God that He never said it would be. I also thank Him that He told us in advance that He would never leave us nor forsake us. Don't you know that is how Jesus could ask the "tough questions". Would we dare ask someone when we were going through a time of testing or trial ..Do you also want to go away?

Speaking for myself, I can honestly remember a situation where I was asking "How can you think of leaving me when everyone else is jumping ship"? "Have you no compassion"? If we can remember that He never leaves us as well as His promise that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us we will not NEED the commitment of other "ordianary" individuals. We will recall that we are extraordinary due to Him completing us!  Don't you think you can handle a "ship jumper" now? I know you can!

I pray that when we have done all to stand ....that because we KNOW that God is faithful and true, we will stand, pick up the armor He has trained us with and enter into the battle to remain in the good fight; not being "one of those" that jumps ship.
"So don't lose your confidence. It will bring you a great reward. 36 ou need endurance so that after you have done what God wants you to do, you can receive what he has promised. 37 Yet, the one who is coming will come soon. He will not delay. 38 he person who has God's approval will live by faith. But if he turns back, I will not be pleased with him." W e don't belong with those who turn back and are destroyed. Instead, we belong with those who have faith and are saved." (Hebrews 10:35-39) God's Word Translation 
May Christ be glorified in all our coming and going this day, Amen.
Candace Huffmaster

Turning Back or Walking with Jesus?

Do you also want to go away? —John 6:67
What a penetrating question! Our Lord’s words often hit home for us when He speaks in the simplest way. In spite of the fact that we know who Jesus is, He asks, "Do you also want to go away?" We must continually maintain an adventurous attitude toward Him, despite any potential personal risk.

 
"From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more" (John 6:66 ). They turned back from walking with Jesus; not into sin, but away from Him. Many people today are pouring their lives out and working for Jesus Christ, but are not really walking with Him. One thing God constantly requires of us is a oneness with Jesus Christ. After being set apart through sanctification, we should discipline our lives spiritually to maintain this intimate oneness. When God gives you a clear determination of His will for you, all your striving to maintain that relationship by some particular method is completely unnecessary. All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Never try to live your life with God in any other way than His way. And His way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.

Peter saw in Jesus only someone who could minister salvation to him and to the world. But our Lord wants us to be fellow laborers with Him.

In John 6:70 Jesus lovingly reminded Peter that he was chosen to go with Him. And each of us must answer this question for ourselves and no one else: "Do you also want to go away?" By Oswald Chambers

Ministry in Word

The Ways and the Paths – Part 4
道与路 – 第四部

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 teachme, 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, OLORD.”

「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。」


When God called Gideon to lead the Israelites to fight the Midianites’ oppression, He reduced Gideon’s men from 32,000 to 300 to face the large army of the Midianites and other enemies. The Bible says that “the Midianties, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.” (Jdg 7:12) Why would God want Gideon and
the Israelites to be outnumbered like that? God had a very good reason. God told Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands.” He did that so that Israel might not boast against God that her own strength had saved her. (Jdg 7:2) God’s purpose was to change the self-reliance of the Israelites into God-dependence. God’s way to accomplish His purpose was by giving the Midianites a nightmare of their defeat to dishearten them, followed by the noise made by the Israelites causing confusion among the Midianites, leading to their slaughtering one another. Today God also wants to transform us from self-centered independence into a God-centered reliance, trusting Him in all things of our life. His way is by showing us His strength where we are weak, and
by delivering us from impossible situations, so that we know we can trust Him. For the Bible commands us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Pr 3:5-6)

当神呼召基甸来带领以色列人抵抗米甸人的压迫时,神把基甸的人数从32,000减 到300去面对米甸人和其他敌人的巨大军队。圣经说「米甸人、亚玛力人,和一切东方人都布散在平原,如同蝗虫那样多。他们的骆驼无数,多如海边的沙。」〔士7:12〕为何神要使基甸和以色列人与敌人如此众寡悬殊呢?神有很好的理由。神告诉基甸说,「跟随你的人过多,我不能将米甸人交在他们手中。」他这样做是免得以色列人向神夸大,说是他们自己的手救了他们〔士7: 2〕。神的目的是要把以色列人的自我倚靠改变为对神的倚靠。神达成他的目的的方法就是让米甸人梦到他们战败而丧胆,接着用以色列人所发出的声音引起米甸人的混乱,引至他们自相残杀。今日神也要把我们从自我中心的独立改变为以神为中心的倚靠,在我们生活上凡事信靠他。他的方法就是在我们软弱之处向我们显出他的力量,和从绝望的情况中拯救我们,让我们知道我们可以信靠他。因为圣经命令我们说,「你要专心仰赖耶和华,不可倚靠自己的聪明,在你一切所行的事上都要认定他,他必指引你的路。」〔箴3:5-6〕

TEACH BY SHOWING AND GUIDING
以指示与引导来教授

After we understand His purpose, we will then learn His ways, because He has promised to teach us His way. Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” If we are willing to learn, we will ask God as King David said, “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me”. He asked God to teach him God’s ways and paths for life with two different methods: by SHOWING him and by GUIDING him. God is a good teacher; he teaches us by SHOWING us His ways through the Ten Commandments, and through Jesus Christ coming into our world to clarify and demonstrate the ways to live a Godly life. God is a good teacher; he teaches us by GUIDING us through the Holy Spirit, and through His small still voice in all our situations telling us that, “This is the way;
walk in it.” (Isa 30:20-21).

我们了解他的目的後,就要学习他的方法,因为他曾应许要指示我们他的路。诗篇32:8说,「我要教导你,指示你当行的路;我要定睛在你身上劝戒你。」如果我们愿意学习我们就会与大卫王一同说,「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」。他求神用两个不同的方法教他神的生命之道路:指示他和引导他。神是一位好老师,他以十诫和藉着耶稣基督到世上来阐明示范过敬虔生活的方法来指示我们他的道路。神是一位好老师,他以圣灵来引导我们,在我们所有的光境中以微小的声音告诉我们,「这是正路,要行在其间。」〔赛30:20-21〕


God teaches us by first laying out what He requires us to do and what He requires us NOT to do. And what does God require of us? The Bible says, “And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your
own good?” (Dt 10:12-13) But then knowing our tendency to live out the letter of the law instead of its spirit, missing the intent of the law, Jesus came into this world to SHOW us what it is and how to do it. For Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” Jn 14:6). Furthermore, God sends the Holy Spirit to GUIDE us giving us personal directions on how to apply His precepts. Let me use the analogy of travel to illustrate
these. Having God’s requirement is like getting the street address, we know what the destination is. Having Jesus’ clarification is like getting the right map, we can find our way to the destination. Having the Holy Spirit in our life is like getting someone who has been there to ride with us and direct us, or having a GPS in our car. These are the ways that God teaches His people His way of life.

神教导我们先认识什麽是他要我们做的和什麽是他不要我们做的。那麽神要我们做什麽呢?圣经说,「以色列阿,现在耶和华─你 神向你所要的是甚麽呢?只要你敬畏耶和华─你的 神,遵行他的道,爱他,尽心尽性事奉他,遵守他的诫命律例,就是我今日所吩咐你的,为要叫你得福。」〔申10:12-13〕但是因为知道我们常常只活出律法字面的意思而非它的精意,错过律法的目的,耶稣来到这世界来指示我们它是什麽和如何去做。因为耶稣「就是道路、真理、生命」〔约
14:6〕。不单如此,神差遣圣灵来引导我们,亲自给我们指示如何应用他的训导。让我用旅行的类推来说明这些。得到神的要求就像得到地址,我们知道目的地是什麽。得到耶稣的阐明就像得到一张正确的地图,我们可以找到去目的地的途径。得到圣灵在我们生活中就有如有一位到过那里的人坐在我们车上来引导我们,或有如车上装了全球卫星定位系统。这些是神教导他的子民他生命之道的方法。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we learn God’s requirements of us through His commandments and statutes. May we imitate Christ in our life and heed the direction of the Holy Spirit in all that we do, so that we may please Him.

愿我们从神的诫命和律令来认识他对我们的要求。愿我们在我们生活上模彷基督 并且在凡事上遵从圣灵的引导,好让我们可以讨神的喜悦。


Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀