May 30, 2010

Lord I Will Follow You But.......

True Cost of Discipleship

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is dfit for the kingdom of God.”


Daily Devotion By Oswald Chambers - My Utmost For His Highest
Luke 9:62 (I added the full scripture that we used last week)

Suppose God tells you to do something that is an enormous test of your common sense, totally going against it. What will you do? Will you hold back? If you get into the habit of doing something physically, you will do it every time you are tested until you break the habit through sheer determination. And the same is true spiritually. Again and again you will come right up to what Jesus wants, but every time you will turn back at the true point of testing, until you are determined to abandon yourself to God in total surrender. Yet we tend to say, “Yes, but— suppose I do obey God in this matter, what about . . . ?” Or we say, “Yes, I will obey God if what He asks of me doesn’t go against my common sense, but don’t ask me to take a step in the dark.”

Jesus Christ demands the same unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him that the natural man exhibits. If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or believe through common sense, and leap by faith into what He says. Once you obey, you will immediately find that what He says is as solidly consistent as common sense.

By the test of common sense, Jesus Christ’s statements may seem mad, but when you test them by the trial of faith, your findings will fill your spirit with the awesome fact that they are the very words of God. Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis— only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God.

My love to each of you - Have a wonderful Sunday,
Candace

May 28, 2010

Re-Post Waiting on the Answer

We have been speaking about what we see as far as our future is concerned. We spoke about how sometimes we are looking through the broken desires of our past. We remember when our aim or goal was in hope and we were striving toward reaching it. However, something came to pass that made us doubt and our hope became doubtful in stead of faithful.


God tells us in Proverbs that hope defered makes the heart sick. Defer simply means to submit to the opinion, wishes, or decision of another through respect or in recognition of it's authority, knowledge, judgment. It means to commit or entrust another!

Remember our discussions about the point in the road where we have to choose between fear and faith? The reason our heart gets sick is because in the deepest part of us, we saw something and believed it was good. Something crawled in beside us in our mind and told us that it was not going to happen, it was not coming to pass or it was snatched from us. We entrusted another, we made the decision to respect or give authority to deception.

In Habakkuk, God promised that the vision is not a lie. He promised that it is hurrying toward it's goal and it will make it; wait for it! We believe that God is not able to lie. We believe that He is faithful and that He promised us His word will not return to Him void. The only way that the vision will not be realized in our lives is if we believe more in something else than we do in God. Our vision changes! What we now see as our vision is that it is difficulty, betrayal and brokenness. We have to remember that it will still happen, we simply did not have all the pieces of the picture filled in yet. Don't erase what you have seen and redo it. Simply add details into what you first saw!

Each work God is doing brings life, peace, joy, provision in full form to many individuals. He affects the lives of others through us and visa versa.

Go back through the notebook if you do not have our information on Habakkuk. Re read this information and remember the vision, write it down. We will be discussing them soon.

With love and a Holy Kiss,
Candace









Habakkuk Chapter 2 vs 1-3 from the Message translation:









1 What's God going to say to my questions? I'm braced for the worst. I'll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I'll wait to see what God says, how he'll answer my complaint.



2-3And then God answered: "Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait.



It's on its way. It will come right on time.

May 27, 2010

......And the Question Will Flee!

As I took my own advice yesterday journaling some of my questions, this is what He said to me. 
"My hands hold the answers to your questions in all. In all ways trust Me…..the questions will flee."

I know this is what "the sojourn is the answer; the question and endless plight" means.  Speaking of meanings we are moving on with "The Story Being Told" today.  Verse three of Genesis 1 states "Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.



God Said.....is where we are parking our cars today.  We are going to get out at this overlook and SEE the sights before us. Let me open the door for you....

God Said is EVERYTHING.  It provides in all ways.  This is all we ever need to know.  Therein lies the question.  It poses "itself" mighty and strong, in its self righteous stance.  It is taunting, as it asks the question......."do you even need to get out and look"?     Let me assure you that as this taunting shadow of darkness is standing over you, God is hovering over -  covering (which is why until we make the choice Satan is "crouching" at our doors.)      God is wooing us with his Love  simply asking ..."Do you?" "Do you feel propelled to get out and look or do you see a  wall or vast darkness where I see all the beauty of the mountains, valley's and horizon?"  

So today, I am opening this door. I am sitting here with you.  We are talking a bit before we broach the answer.  Remember there is a time to not speak as well.  Just because someone poses a question do not always feel propelled to justify it.  Think of  the times Christ just stood holding His words.  For now... let's just ponder some things.

The question posed "itself" Do you believe "God"?
Do you believe IN him, Of him, About him.? For you teachers out there - God is the great Preposition and we are the object (of His desire)
If we do not believe "God" then what ever He said is a mute point.
However, I am not going to let you off the hook that easily.
I am going to tell you what Said means in Hebrew.  This my friends IS the sojourn and why all questions are an endless plight.

"Amar" has a much more complete definition than simply "said".  It has forms such as to say, speak or utter.  However it also means to answer or to say in one's heart.  It compiles the essence of to think, promise, command as well as intend.  It means "to be told", to be said, to be called as well as to boast and to act proudly. It also means to avow. In case you are not sure what that means - It means to acknowledge openly, boldly, and unashamedly; confess as in guilt. There is a second meaning of stating positively. This is a derivative from the word advocate. Avouch means to declare the provable truth or validity of; affirm:

We will pick up here tomorrow..


Today I pray that we think of him as the Great Preposition and ourselves as the object of His desire: that  we see His face and  like a whimsical butterfly we fly to Him, around Him;  that we will be with Him and glean from His wisdom, counsel, patience, peace, joy and love; that we flutter out from His presence with a changed mind, whole, complete, restored, liberated and free and yet that we not seperate our self from His position or fly from His view.

With Love in Christ,
Candace

May 26, 2010

After you Let it Go is There Anything You Can Do?

I am beginning to see the reason that in 7 days God said it is done.  I will hold my rambling thoughts till the 7th day (....my way of saying I care =D )  Today we are adding Genesis 1:3 to our epic.  I am quoting from God's Word Translation Bible.
 "Then God said, “Let there be light!” So there was light."
Continuing on, in case you are unaware, we are reading the "About the Author" section of God's Epic.

Let's put it together so far:
In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep water. The Spirit of God was hovering over the water. Then God said, “Let there be light!” So there was light.
We know that God was and has always been.  We now know that He is beginning something new with just the first sentence.  Do you ever just sit and ask Him about what was before the beginning?   What have you got to loose?  Do you think it would be a waste of time?  Do you think He doesn't exist?  Do you think He doesn't talk or converse with each one of us?  Why don't you write about it....maybe within the personal lines on your pages you might go back at some point and find out....He was talking with you.  Just a thought!

Anyway....This new thing He made ...He created, from nothing and formed it into something was Heaven and Earth.  Boom (or Bang as some would say) there it was.  How does He do that?  The earth that He made was formless...empty, AND darkness covered the deep water.  That sounds pretty spooky to me.  I do not think I would want to go there.  If I was there I would be hiding very deep and under a cover too.  But then just like a loving parent...who showed up?  That's right...God showed up!  He stood over that blanket and was probably saying don't be afraid...I'll flip the light on and show you there is nothing here to be afraid of.

God said "Let there be Light".  And There was Light.  However, just because He made it available and it is there does not mean that we are going to let our covers down, see that there is nothing there and rest in His protection.

I think I will leave us with this image of God today.  Our daddy, big, strong, loving and always there to chase out the boogie man, bad dream or whatever else we need.

Today, ask Him to shed some light on your fears.  Trust that His spirit is hovering over your dark areas.  Willing us to open our eyes, cast down false imaginations and be free from the darkness that is suppressing our whimsical lives.

Believe..Be Alive and Be Beautiful...BeCause you already Are.  He already made you that way (He has let it be there and it is)  You simply have to accept it as so.
With Love,
Candace


May 25, 2010

Ministry in Word

Divine Petition – Part 1
神的祈求 – 第一篇

(Partially based on Charles Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening” devotional)
(部份根据查理斯.司布真的「早晨与傍晚」灵修作品)
Luke 22:31-32
路加22:31-32

“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.”
「西门!西门!撒但想要得着你们,好筛你们像筛麦子一样;但我已经为你祈求,叫你不至於失了信心。」

Introduction
前言
Most people have three questions concerning prayers, that is, when should we pray, how should we pray, and why should we pray. The apostle James answers these questions in his short letter in the Bible.
大多数人对祈祷有三个疑问,就是我们该在什麽时候祈祷、我们该怎样祈祷和为什麽我们要祈祷。使徒雅各在圣经中他的短信里解答这些问题。

When Should We Pray
我们该在什麽时候祈祷
The answer to the question “when should we pray” is found in James 5:13, “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” When we are in trouble we may think that God is uncaring, unknowing, or unable to help, therefore we become tired of praying. Instead, James said that trouble time is exactly the very time we should pray. And then when we are happy, we may not think of praying to God, because we are content, but James said we should also pray and our prayers should be filled with songs of praise, because God is the ultimate source of our happiness. The next verse says that if anyone is sick, when he seems like too weak to pray, that in his weakness he should pray. So James is saying that we should pray when we are in any kind of trouble or suffering, when we are happy for any reason, and when we are sick and feeble. In other words, we should pray in good time and bad time, in all circumstances. That is why Apostle Paul told the Philippian believers, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” (Php 4:6). So Paul also said that in all situations we should pray.

「我们该在什麽时候祈祷」这个问题的答案在雅各书5:13找到:「你们中间有受苦的呢,他就该祷告;有喜乐的呢,他就该歌颂。」当我们在受苦的时候我们可能以为神漠不关心、不知不觉或有心无力去帮助,所以我们对祈祷产生厌倦。反过来雅各说受苦之时正是最需要祷告之时。而当我们喜乐的时候,因为我们心安意足我们就不觉得要向神祈祷。但雅各说我们该祷告并且我们的祷告该充满歌颂,因为神是我们喜乐的最终源头。下一节说你们中间有病了的呢,当他看来没力气祷告,在他的软弱中他须要祈祷。所以雅各在说当我们受任何的苦之时,当我们为任何缘故喜乐之时,和当我们带病软弱之时,我们都该祷告。换句话说,不论在好景或失意时,不论在任何处境里,我们都当祈祷。那是为何使徒保罗告诉腓立比的信徒说:「应当一无挂虑,只要凡事藉着祷告、祈求,和感谢,将你们所要的告诉神。」〔腓4:6〕所以保罗也说我们在所有的情况中都要祷告。
How Should We Pray
我们该怎麽祈祷

James then answered the question of “how should we pray,” saying FIRST, if a person is sick, he should call for the elders to pray over him. Calling the elders, who represent the church, is calling the church to pray in unity for him. This follows closely Jesus’ teaching for He had said that if two of us agree about anything we ask for, it will be done for us by His Father in heaven (Mt 18:19).

雅各接着解答「我们该怎麽祈祷」这问题说,方法之第一点,一个人病了,他就该请教会的长老来为他祷告。请代表教会的教会长老来就是请教会合一地为他祷告。这跟耶稣的教导相近,因为他曾说过若是我们中间有两个人在地上同心合意的求甚麽事,他在天上的父必为我们成全。〔太18:19〕

SECONDLY, James also said that our prayer should be offered in the name of the Lord. This is in accordance to what Jesus said in John 14:14 that “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Praying in the name of Jesus means we submit our will to His will, believing that He has in His heart our best interest. It is so easy to pray a list of requests specifying what we want God do for us, instead of praying in submission to God’s will for us. That is why Jesus told his disciples, “Until now you have asked nothing in my name.” (Jn 16:24)

方法之第二点,雅各又说我们应当奉主的名来祈祷。这符合耶稣在约翰14:14说的:「你们若奉我的名求甚麽,我必成就。」奉主的名祈求就是我们的旨意顺服他的旨意,相信在他心中他会为我们的好处设想。我们很容易就会祈求一系列的东西,告诉神我们要他为我们做什麽,而非让我们的祷告顺服神对我们的旨意。那是为何耶稣告诉他的门徒「向来你们没有奉我的名求甚麽。」〔约16:24〕
To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we remain steadfast in offering our prayer and petition with thanksgiving to God in all circumstances.

愿我们在所有情况中坚定不移地保持我们向神的祷告、祈求,和感谢。

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

The Master of Spinning the Tale


For those of you that are not part of our monthly meetings if you would like the information so that you can be part of our groups we would love to have you.  We have another forum we utilize so that you have the freedom to speak your honest thoughts.  We encourage you to share all of them without fear of being right or wrong.  We are committed to encouraging you to be all God has made you to be...always...in all ways.

Send me an E-mail for more details.
candyhuff@aol.com or call us 404-432-0589
With Love in Christ,
From all the lovely women and children that make up Kaleidoscope Butterfly organization...
Candace Huffmaster, Founder
Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc

Yesterday we looked at the first day or the intro to the storyline God has opened for us.   God imagined a day with light and darkness so He made it.  We do not make things come into being that we do not believe to be good.  God is no different.   
Today we are adding in another verse to the previous two.  It is from Psalm 23.
In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep water. The spirit of God was hovering over the water.
A new day will dawn on us from above because our God is loving and merciful. He will give light to those who live in the dark and in death's shadow.

Even though I walk through the dark valley of death, because you are with me, I fear no harm. (full chapter below)
Go back and review the posts on shadows (you can use the search area or click on the tags to the right side).  Randomly list your thoughts for a brainstorming session.  Go ahead and share them with each other if you'd like. 

As you are out and about today, look at the shadow you are casting and practice the presence of God..converse with Him.  You will be amazed at what He'd like to talk with you about.

I pray that we see beyond our ability as we thank God for imagining what "this day" would be like.  Seeing us all participating in it and believing that it was Good.
May each of you feel the warmth of His Son on you "while it is still called today"

Kisses,
C

Psalm 23 (GWT)

A psalm by David.


1The LORD is my shepherd. I am never in need. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside peaceful waters.3He renews my soul.He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name. 4Even though I walk through the dark valley of death, because you are with me, I fear no harm.

Your rod and your staff give me courage. 5You prepare a banquet for me while my enemies watch. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. 6Certainly, goodness and mercy will stay close to me all the days of my life, and I will remain in the LORD’s house for days without end.

May 24, 2010

In the Beginning...

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.


I find it amazing that God does not open up His story to us with “How great He is”. The introduction of Himself to us is simply I started something new. Where there was nothing I created tangible and intangible. This is the perfect starting point.

In order for us to believe in the intangible we have to have something tangible. Otherwise we appear foolish to ourselves and others. God never asks us to trust without proof. He asks us to see and believe. So He took the first step into showing us something we could believe in.

Something from nothing is Huge! Can we trust that? Isn’t that the plumb line? What do you believe?

The Story unfolds in Genesis 1

In the beginning God created heaven and earth……. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep water. The Spirit of God was hovering over the water.

The earth was formless the bible says – this is the definition of the Hebrew word Tohuw:
                      Formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness
                                        Empty space, nothingness; wasteland, wilderness, a place of chaos; vanity

In Luke it speaks of how deep is that darkness. Can you imagine how deep, cold, isolating and void this must have been? Can you perceive being a life and falling off the edge into this abyss? Isn’t that a terrifying thought? Think about what eternal separation from God and others must be like? We know what life feels like, we know what separation feels like….and we don’t like it!

Thank Goodness God didn’t like it either. We know this because He did not stop the first day here. He made sure His Spirit was hovering over that formless, empty darkness. He did not stop the first day until He had it protected, well lit and covered. Now that is a great intro!

So today, this is my prayer for me as well as us all.

Father, please help us to push the chaotic, empty space of this world away so that I we might hear and see what you want us to. So that we might be able to speak what you have for us to say as well as be able to walk to where you want us to go. Help us believe and find what is real amidst the confusion sweeping around and through this wasteland. Your spirit is hovering, covering us and bringing us light. This is what we believe and trust.

In Jesus Name, Amen.
Love,
Candace

May 22, 2010

A Shadow of Things to Come

Colossians 2:17 states:


"These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts the shadow belongs to Christ."

I decided to go back to the beginning and see if I couldn’t find something resembling the first shadow. We have been speaking about things going before Christ. However, we know that God is the beginning and the end. This must mean that He went first, then we Go, then Christ Goes. This is such a great ebb and flow. It is the perfect example of how God is in all things and fulfills all things.

God is behind all things….so it stands to reason that everything else must go before His presence.

We will be pulling from segments of past conversations and blending them with new pieces of information. Get ready to sit with God and allow your shell to burst….your roots to grow down…and His life to sprout.

I preface this journey of enlightenment with 1 Corinthians 2

A letter from Paul:

Brothers and Sisters:

When I came to you, I didn’t speak about God’s mystery as if it were some kind of brilliant message or wisdom. While I was with you, I decided to deal with only one subject – Jesus Christ, who was crucified. When I came to you, I was weak. I was afraid and very nervous. I didn’t speak my message with persuasive intellectual arguments. I spoke my message with a show of spiritual power so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power. However, we do use wisdom to speak to those who are mature. It is a wisdom that doesn’t belong to this world or to the rulers of this world who are in power today and gone tomorrow. We speak about the mystery of God’s wisdom. It is a wisdom that has been hidden, which God has planned for our glory before the world began. Not one of the rulers of this world has known it. If they had, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory. But as Scripture says:

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.”

God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, especially the deep things of God. After all, who knows everything about a person except that person’s own spirit? In the same way, no one has known everything about God except God’s Spirit. Now, we didn’t receive the spirit that belongs to the world, Instead, we received the Spirit who comes from God so that we could know the things which God has freely given us. We don’t speak about these things using teachings that are based on intellectual arguments like people do. Instead, we use the Spirit’s teachings. We explain spiritual things to those who have the Spirit. A person who isn’t spiritual doesn’t accept the teachings of God’s Spirit. He thinks they’re nonsense. He can’t understand them because a person must be spiritual to evaluate them. Spiritual people evaluate everything but are subjected to no one’s evaluation.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can teach him?”

However, we have the mind of Christ.

I thank God that we are not left to flounder like we were lost and unloved.

Be still and know He is God…and that He loves you deeply, honestly, passionately and freely.

Kisses,

Candace

May 21, 2010

Before You......

There is a difference between having a conversation with God and debating with God...
Let's use an example of a parent and child to stress where we are going with this:
  Child, "Dad I need to talk with you.  I am thinking of moving to where the economy is a bit better and there are more jobs in my area of expertise."  "I know you have done this many times so I would like to know what you think; you know my skill set as well as this industry."
  Dad, "I thought you might be thinking of this so I looked around and a company told me they will be opening up a new location right here.  The merger should be finalized in a couple of weeks.  I planted the idea of you coming on board with the men I was speaking with. They are going to talk with the branch manager."  
 Child," Well I appreciate that Dad, however, I really think I just want a change of scenery." "I just want to move and think the closing of our location is the perfect opportunity." 
 Dad, "I know it seems like that son, however, I have been looking all around the US for other businesses that are stable enough for you to consider moving; as well as all the expenses that go in to that move."  "It just is not good timing, you will face undue hardship if you go now."  "Before you set your mind, please take the time to consider these things."

In our passages we have been looking at how the spirit of God goes before us.  We know that His word tells us to consult with Him in all our ways so that our spirit may prosper and our souls may find rest. 

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb,I knew you.Before you were born,I set you apart for my holy purpose.I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven!The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.

Matthew 6:8 Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

God is working on something...something larger than we can wrap our human pixels of comprehension around.  There was much more I wanted to say today...but I hear Him saying Shhhh.  Be silent....Be still.

So...of course this made me remember  a time years ago when He said this to me.

I have no idea what it is ....but I know He does, I will go find it now.  Be Still and Know He is God - That is my prayer for us all today.....Back in a minute with the close of this post.....

Linger and Listen

Shhhhhh…
What a marvelous day, my love,
Feel the warmth of my love,
Rest in the fragrance that circles my home.

Linger…
Here at my side and partake
Of the gifts I so richly provide.
Your love for me grows as you trust in my ways.


Listen…
My love to my heart as it speaks,
To you my dear, longing to please me,
My love runs so deep; you can never run out.

Peace….
You partake and peace you release,
Because in you I do dwell,
Your light shines to all,
Whether it’s day bright or dark night.

Silence…
You hear when the voice is not true
And no memories do you now have.
Share in my delight of the spirit in flight.
By Candace Huffmaster ©

May 20, 2010

Movers and Shakers...Among the Daisies

If you are just joining us, welcome.  We are continuing on with the pieces of what God has planted or our puzzle pieces.  Let's water those seeds today and just lay in the warmth of His sun light. Soon everyone will be able to see the daisy He has been tending.

Yesterday we stopped with Luke 10:38-42 Martha was irritated that she had company and no help.  That is not really very hospitable.  A guest does not come into our homes for the W Hotel treatment.  They come to visit, to deepen relationship.  We forget that most of the time.  If what someone desires is a B&B with you "B-ing" the employee of the month, then maybe you should give them the number and directions to the W. 

All kiding aside, and back on track now - Christ had quiet a day, the day He walked into Martha's house.  He had been traveling, teaching, casting out demons.  All along His road He was looking for people that would listen and learn.  If it had of been me I would have been a bit tired - but God is so patient and Christ exemplified this when the diciples were still needing to grow up a bit.  They desired to get everyone to stop "acting" like they were part of their God team when they in deed were not.  However, Christ corrected their view of things. He told them his fathers' moto: "If  they aren't against you, they are for you." This did not mean that those individuals come come with them on their journey though.

Christ needed the ones that were willing to be in His shadow.  The "rebels with a cause" could not come.  It seems many wanted to be part of the "Jesus Train", to be part of the "Movers and Shakers" of their times.  But Gods agenda had to have those that when they had done all to stand  - and the shakin' started - they would not move away. 
"So who are you? Are you a "Mover and Shaker" or are you a "Shaken and not Moved"?
Moving on....This same day atleast 3 men were shaken....Christ kept moving down the road.  He didn't stop.

He was walking toward Mary and Martha's house with His disciples talking about the things that were to come.  This is the conversation they were having:
(GWT)Luke 10: 1- 8 After this, the Lord appointed other disciples to go ahead of him to every city and place that he intended to go. They were to travel in pairs.

He told them, “The harvest is large, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops. Go! I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don’t carry a wallet, a traveling bag, or sandals, and don’t stop to greet anyone on the way. Whenever you go into a house, greet the family right away with the words, ‘May there be peace in this house.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting will be accepted. But if that’s not the case, your greeting will be rejected. Stay with the family that accepts you. Eat and drink whatever they offer you. After all, the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from one house to another. Whenever you go into a city and the people welcome you, eat whatever they serve you. Heal the sick that are there, and tell the people, ‘The kingdom of God is near you!’
As if Jesus' day had not been long enough, He then bumps into a religious expert who had something to prove.  So Christ took the time to speak a tale to Him.  He didn't stop though..He finally reached the door of Martha's house.

Look how God had gone before them all day long...planting those seeds.  He watered them, nurtured them, protected them.  This one day He planted so many seeds He could have a very fragrant center piece from the daisies if they desire to flower.  He is doing His work, that of a diligent farmer.  He also knows where to send His workers so that they will be most productive at working what has been planted.

He scatters and tells us to do as He does..not to stop.  He tell people my workers are coming back in before me.  Be prepared!  Accept them as My Fathers workers.  He tells us that we are to greet people with a blessing of peace.  The rest He is aware of and has provided.  He does not desire for us to be in lack of provision.  This is the reason He says not to stop until you get to where you are to be going. He tells us not to hop around like we are chasing after the wind, but to stay until our work is done.  He moves us.  Mary understood this.  Martha was unsettled and working in her own understanding.  Christ cared so He shared some really good news with her.  He told her Martha, it's okay...take a break.  I just want to be "with you".  I don't have a need for a B&B.  My Father has taken care of all my needs.  Just "B" with me.  Nothing else need be added.

This day, I pray that you just B.  Be...Cause.

As KB understands, there is only One Cause and that is Love....Love makes everything beautiful.  I pray that you flower..... as He made you to flower. 

With love and mercy...shine of His glory today,
Candace



 

May 19, 2010

Tidy LOOKS good ...and we LIKE that!

Usually I preface my personal observations with something along the lines of "I hope I am not alone on this one", however today I can just put this one out there.  I have spoken to most everyone of you so I know this to be the common thread that runs through our lives. "We cannot get it to fit in a box any longer - ha ha.

The cardboard our container is comprised of is almost like cloth and it has been duct-taped so much that it is the tape holding it together.  And it's shape...well it has had better days.  But we are still working it because it is all we've got to hold our pieces together.

So today, let's just sit down with our box and analyze ....do we even need most of those things we've been carrying for SO long?  Again, without question, I can say not ALL of them.  In fact we probably don't even need the box any longer.  We could just put all those things out for everyone to see and appreciate.  Wouldn't that be liberating?  We would still have to tend to them and care for them...but maybe we might get some help with some of that.

There is A LOT of talk in the pop psych world about "ownership" of your stuff.  I think ownership is overrated.  That makes us responsible, yes...but our place is "stewardship".  Ownership belongs to God and God alone.  So while we are accountable for living consciously, Christ paid the debt to liberate us as we strive to grow and mature.  There are consequences already set in place that cause situations to line up in our lives.  Whether we desire to acknowledge that we cause them or not does not change the outcome.  People get emotionally sometimes physically hurt by them.....God promises when we are under his ownership, practicing good stewardship that nothing shall in anyway HARM us.  So let's open our boxes and look at things we think we NEED to own today.  Allow His spirit to look at your thoughts and beliefs maybe...just maybe we can put one of those things into a better place today.....Just one...Just for today.

Remember the whole Mary vs Martha event.   If Christ was encouraging Martha to allow things outside of the box and just sit in peace with Him....Maybe we should think He meant it!

Luke 10  starting at vs 38 As they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to him talk. But Martha was upset about all the work she had to do. So she asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. There’s only one thing you need. Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her.”

Some translation say one thing you NEED to worry about - we will start here tomorrow.

I pray that we all sit at God's feet today...He'd like that A LOT! In Christ...

With Love,
Candace

Ministry in Word

Things Unshaken – Part 6
那不被震动的 – 第六篇

Hebrews 12:26-28 (NKJV)
希伯來書12:26-28

but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace,by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

当时他的声音震动了地,但如今他应许说:再一次我不单要震动地,还要震动天。这再一次的话,是指明被震动的,就是受造之物都要挪去,使那不被震动的常存。所以我们既得了不能震动的国,就当感恩,照神所喜悦的,用虔诚、敬畏的心事奉神。

Last 4 weeks we examined 9 of the 10 aspects of receiving the unshakable kingdom that will remain. Now we continue with the tenth aspect.

上四周我们察看了我们领受那不被震动,常存的这国十个方面之九方面。现在我们要看第十方面。

10. BY DOING THE WILL OF GOD
十、 藉着遵行神的旨意

Lastly we enter the kingdom by doing the will of God. We learn this truth because Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Mt 7:21) Entering the kingdom means submitting ourselves to the authority of our King Jesus. If we are obedient to Him, we must be doing His will. It is not those who only call Jesus Lord, but those who really act on God’s will that have entered the kingdom.

最後,我们藉着遵行神的旨意来进入国度。我们知道这个真理因为耶稣说「凡称呼我主阿,主阿的人不能都进天国;惟独遵行我天父旨意的人才能进去。」〔太7:21〕进入国度表示我们服从我们的君王耶稣的杈柄。如果我们服从他我们一定是在遵行他的旨意。不是那些只称耶稣主阿的人,而是那些实践神的旨意已进了国度的人。


CONCLUSION
结语

Today’s scriptures tell us about the things that will not be shaken at the last days, and that we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We have looked at 10 different aspects of receiving the kingdom. That is, we receive the unshakable kingdom

今天的经文告诉我们关于那些事物在末世时不被震动,而我们在领受一个不被震动的国。我们察看了领受国度的十方面。那就是我们领受不被震动的国度是

1. BY EXPERIENCING NEW BIRTH – by being born again
一、 藉着新生的经历 - 藉着重生

2. BY RECEIVING IT AS A GIFT FROM JESUS – we cannot earn it
二、 藉着从耶稣那里得到它作礼物 – 我们不能赚取它

3. BY RESPONDING TO GOD’S CALL – we choose to receive it
三、 藉着回应神的呼召 – 我们选择去领受它

4. BY REPENTING OF OUR SINS – we turn from our iniquities
四、 藉着悔改我们的罪 – 我们从我们的罪过中回转

5. BY BEING REDEEMED THROUGH CHRIST – Jesus is the only Savior
五、 藉着透过基督得救赎 – 耶稣是唯一的救主

6. BY ACCEPTING CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS – we are justified through faith in Jesus alone
六、 藉着接受基督的义 – 我们单靠耶稣称义

7. BY FOLLOWING JESUS – Jesus has the top priority of our heart
七、 藉着跟随耶稣 – 耶稣在我们心中有最高优先

8. BY LOVING GOD – we love God because He has first loved us
八、 藉着爱神 -我们爱神因为他先爱我们

9. BY PERSEVERING IN THE FAITH – we continue in our faith in our trials
九、 藉着恒守所信的道 – 在我们的试炼中持续我们的信心

10. BY DOING THE WILL OF GOD – we submit to the authority of God
十、 藉着遵行神的旨意 – 我们服从神的杈柄

All created things in this world will be shaken and removed. But the kingdom of God cannot be shaken. The kingdom is here and now in the believers’ hearts. One day it will become universal when all knees shall bow and all mouths confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

这世界上所有受造之物都要被震动被挪去。但神的国不能被震动。现今国度已在信徒心里,有一天它会成为人类全体的,那时万膝都要跪拜万口都要承认耶稣基督是主。

May we submit ourselves to the authority of Jesus, following His example of obedience to God, entering the kingdom by doing His will.

愿我们我们服从耶稣的杈柄,模彷他对神顺服的榜样,藉著行他的旨意来进入国度里。

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

May 18, 2010

Welcome...We are Very Glad to be With You.

Last night was amazing to me. God woos me along this journey in such mighty ways. I appreciate each of you. This morning I was starting my day as much like every other morning of what I have come to understand as “my life”, opening myself up to discuss yesterdays and seek God’s direction.

To My Fellow Sojourner,

As I sit here looking back at where I started, not so much the very beginning but the day I first looked at myself in that rear view mirror, trying so desperately to see my way clearly. I’ve walked across the miles: seen the smiles, the turned backs, the arms that would not embrace as well as the ones that opened wide telling me to trust them and give as they themselves were hiding behind a facade. I’ve felt and remembered the pain; pain I had never imagined and bondage no one can escape on their own.
I have read many travelers’ experiences and opinions on “how to” however the same thread runs through each of our tales. Today is only a point in time and all time has been closed. It is now about fulfillment of the days.

Everyone’s journey is as unique as they are. No one can tell you “how to” journey your path except the creator of your path. Many times we are looking to the creature, instead of the creator. The creature is to aid, not to answer. As I heard Him whisper one day, “the answer is the sojourning, the question an endless plight; be still and know that I am God and I love you, deeply, honestly, passionately so that you will know freedom and can love freely just as I would …..for me; always… in all ways.

These are precious moments I’ve lived, the good, the bad, and the ugly, (Clint Eastwood days), some turbulent times, some peaceful times and some exuberant times. I am not a writer as I have previously said; I am just another sojourner on a quest. I am putting all this out here, because He asks us to be real and to share. I know He will find the success He desires to reach whoever wants to know Him. If it is only one person, I am happy to know He has reached you, and that we share this experience together throughout eternity.

Whoever you are talk, sing, share and love… not because you’re perfect at it but because you can—for Him.

With love and kisses,
Candace

Today, I praise Him, I give Him thanks. There are just around 100 of us now. This does not include the wonderful people involved in the intercessory area, between 15 and 20. There are now individuals set to train as well as be trained for outreach. Some days it is very overwhelming for me to grasp the ways God has propelled and orchestrated his love for each of us to know He is Real.

This is what He wants us to understand:

My arm is what reaches through the chaos to show them the truly beautiful pathways to life. When they stand at the wayside and wait, I WILL be there, I AM always there, they simply lean on their own understanding (knowledge, sight, emotions and theories) to struggle their way along. I know not to lead them onto that path, the evil is waiting, crouching around every corner to head them back to his pit. I want them to be in peace so that they will change their mind and get away from what is waging war with fullness of life. I AM.. tell them that. I AM here, I AM an ever ready help in their time of trouble. All they have to do is believe it. I Will do the rest. I Will supply the vision, I Will supply the strength, I Will cover them with My Glory and They Will succeed.

I pray that the sacrifices that are made are glorifying to Him. This is what He has desired a relationship, a body to call His own. this is a fragrant aroma in His sight.
Look in the archives to go further. Topic: moments, journey, sight

Enjoy THIS day that the Lord "has made" - Just as He has Made YOU....and He calls you "beautiful".

What could be MORE beautiful than that?
Kisses,
C

May 17, 2010

If Life is a Dance...Who are You Dancing With?

It is very picturesque to think of life being a dance. If that were true and others were watching me, most days I would look like the character Elaine dancing at her work party on the Seinfeld episode. 

So today...let's just rest and listen to the minuet God is serenading us with.  I pray peace over you and that it overtake you like a calm gentle current.

With Love..I leave you to read and relax...in Him.
Candace

Don't Dance With Your Demons

I love you so deeply…..
Speak to my heart..........
Be food for my soul.......
Your gentle voice encourages me, washes the world away;
Lifts the weight of debris, softens the earth of my flesh
Use your hands now to mold me, into your perfect fit.

Don’t dance with your demons, just take my hand
We’ll circle to the music, your body, my lead
Our gaze will lock; you’ll see only my face
As the music infuses, the rhythm soothes
We’ll glide on the dance floor in harmony perfectly timed
All on-lookers will be silent watching such a bond.
When learning it is awkward, hard to move smooth
Your muscles won’t flex or bend as they should
Patience and time train and build skill
Suddenly the dancer is beauty unveiled.

The music, is my voice, melodious as a bird
The instruments of harmony, the woodwinds of my words
My hand is the conductor, my children the notes
The audience is prepared and waiting with baited breath
Our curtain is split, rolling back like the tide
So let us work our magic while they are ready to ride.

There is so much to say, and time is at hand
Remember my instructions, wait for my prompt
Then all things come together, no note will sound flat
The notes are like drops of water which comprise the sea
The movements are like a compulsion bursting forth directed by me
The impact controlled for cause and outcome
To arouse the emotions of the anticipant crowd
They have come for a reason, let’s not let them down
Their passion will rise and their hearts will be moved
Their souls will be softened; my blood can roll in
Then return into our family held tightly in my hand.

Think of a farmer, one seed in his palm
He looks for a spot best suited for that life:
Perfect soil, sun or shade with nourishment it needs
He keeps watch to protect its growth
He loves it, supports it when its weight is too much
Till strength in its trunk help handle the size.

My hand is sufficient to meet all the needs
The plants have no worries; they grow as they’re willed
Predestined in all ways, for He know what they will be
A rose won’t grow coconuts and grass won’t become a tree
But each is perfection for its purpose and need
Beauty and function….now all is complete.

By Candace Huffmaster©

May 16, 2010

Life Cannot Grow if a Seed Has Not Been Planted

Yesterday we spoke about the metaphorical seeds planted. We spoke about things we believe to be true. Let’s relate this to purchasing a pack of seeds we believe to be daisy’s. We buy the packet, not really knowing what a daisy seed looks like. We get out our terracotta pots, fill them with dirt, poke the appropriate holes into the rich soil, and tear open the packet. Next we take one precious seed at a time, place it tenderly in that hole and press soil over it. We water it, fertilize it, and move it to get the right light. We brag about what will be coming up soon. We think of how we are going to use the flowers. We remember times in the past associated with this particular flower or how lovely it will be.

This is the same buy in we do when we are planting thoughts, planning our futures. We do it one seed at a time. Think a bit more today over the subjects we have been discussing over the past few weeks. Go back in the archives and read “Be Angry and Not Sin”

I leave you with these thoughts:

Anger stems from passion, however anger is not the first emotion felt.  Each one of those emotions kindle the fire, which ultimately causes a spontaneous combustion. We then are moved to action, the action we take moves us with zeal toward the passion. Keep in mind, unless the passion is righteous, we will be propelled deeper into darkness, despair and death.

I pray that you follow your heart, and that your heart is after God’s own.

With Love, in Christ,

Candace

May 15, 2010

Do We Even Like Knock-Off's?

Today I am adding another verse as well as some definitions.  Stick with me, I know this will seem random as we add to the puzzle we are working here. 

Hebrews 4: 9 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

We stopped yesterday with Hebrews 9:5 using GWT this verse states: Above the arc were angels of glory with their wings overshadowing the throne of mercy.  Cherubium are "angels of glory"

Hebrews 4:7 spoke of God setting another "day" and it being "today" - Day is derived from a Greek work Hemero meaning the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
Today is derived from the Greek word semeron meaning this day, or what has happened today.

Now to connect some other things we know about spiritual light and darkness: God tells us all things are common to man.  He asks us what does light hav in common with darkness. In 2 Cor. 6:14 He tell us not to be bound together with unbelievers- for what fellowship has light with darkness. In 11:14 He speaks of Satan disguising himself as an angel of light.  Other verses on light refer to us being darkness but are now light as well as light consisiting of goodness, righteousness and truth.  He tells us "all things being visible when exposed by light", also that we are being called out of darkness into glorious light.

We obviously cannot cover all this today.  God plants seeds.  Althought they are metaphorical when planted they become visable within our creative capacities.  They eventually become real...mighty miracles which bring glory to Christ, which glorifies our God.

So lets revisit being in-between.  Yesterday we were pondering being the movement in-between and we defined what the word means.  Today we discovered that Hemero or day means in-between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night. We know we are to be following Christ, therefor  Him being bright light when it falls over us it would cast a perfect shadow.  When we are under him our shadow will not fade.  What happens when the sun starts to set to shadows?  They diminish don't they?  Sometimes do you think it is possible we are following what we think is the Son, however there doesn't seem to be much light? 

This is where our new verse drops in so perfectly!  If the son we are following is a knock-off we will fall...there will be no light and no one to help us.  He is an example of disobedience - He and those around him do not care about us.  They care about "self".

I pray that the eyes of your hear are enlightened, and that you hear what the spirit of God is telling you this day.  I pray that when you are down there is One to help you up.  I pray that you feel the love He offers in the many that love Him and strive to wrap you in their care "today".

Kisses in Christ,
Candace

May 14, 2010

What is In-between?

In thinking about shifting shadows, I went back into some of my older journals and found a questions I had asked God to help me understand.  This is a great time to ask you a simple question.  When you ask God a question do you expect an answer?  Do you expect it immediately?  I hope I am not out here alone when I share my anwers to these.  When I was a child, I did not know to ask Him anything.  I knew He was God and that our family believed in Him and that Christ was our savior.  I never even questioned that - it was not an option.  Not that I ever desired one, I simply believed and liked the safety that I felt in knowing that.  As I got older, I did have questions.  I knew that our Sunday school teachers and ministers would take the time to answer them.  I also had my bible which I could discover how God thought as well as what He instructed.  When I was in my twenties I actually started talking to God, telling him my thoughts, desires and shattered hope (mostly the shattered stuff).  I would tell Him of my confussion and tell Him what I wanted to be different...but did I really expect Him to answer?  Honestly I do not know.  He was more of an ominous journal I think.  With that being said I hope He has those journals locked in the vault since all our words are recorded for eternity.  Surely there is a confidentiality clause!  Anyway, back to topic -

This was a process through the years of relating to God.  People do not become best friends over night.  We take steps, share things, learn to trust ...or not.  God has nothing but time, and whether or not we know it, He is in control of the time we have here.  He promised not to cut it short.  He desires for us to have a fully mature relationship with Him.  He has GREAT boundaries that are for our growth.  So with that I will tell you what I wrote years ago.  I did not understand it then, He has taken about 3 years to get me to this point of understanding; which of course is only part of it.

"There is but light and dark, we are the movement inbetween"

Defined, in-between means, lying between two extremes in time or space or state; an intermediate.

Think about all the scriptures speaking of light and dark.  God saw light was good.  God seperated light from darkness. We are under the heavenly lights, we move within the light and dark.   He brings light into darkness.  How dark is that darkness?  Darkness will overwhelm me, and the light will be my night. The one forming light and creating darkness. 

These are only a few.  So where are we in the light and darkness?  Another verse to throw into this mix is Hebrews 9:5 (KJ) "And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly."

In this passage they were not going to go there..but we are.  Take the time to look up some of these points, sit with God - whether you think He will answer of not - and ponder some of these things.  I pray you go for the "Ask".  I belive you will hear His voice resonate deep within the midst of your soul.  That is where the gift was placed...the gift of truth, counsel, wisdom; this is the Holiest of Holiess where His spirit calls Home.

With Love and Light in Christ,
Candace

May 13, 2010

Shifting Shadows..Are they real?

We are focusing on Shadows for the next few day.  Colossians 2:17 states:
"These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts the shadow belongs to Christ."

There are so many avenues we can go in with this topic.  We spoke about who we are listening to.  Now I would like to broach the subject of accountability on our part.  We know that individuals have free will.  God chose this and said it was good.  So people have the right to do things their way and say what they desire to speak.  People do it all day long ....all the time.  We have to chose if we think it is truth or not.

There is a greek word Neoeo which means to perceive or observe. One of Kaleidoscope Butterfly's purpose statements is to give others the information needed to "have a conscious life, understanding words and giving proper knowledge to suspect, suppose, surmise with understanding". Listed below is a poem as well as scripture. Think on these things, we will start there tomorrow.

With a holy kiss, in Christ,
Candace


My Shadow

Let me write something pretty for you, Lord,
Let me raise my voice high.
Stir my spirit to praise you, glorifying my King.
The valley I did travel, the journey many years long,
At times I had no vision, the walls too close to see,
No feeling of compassion along my dusty road.
Hear this, my lonely traveler, My words shall persevere!
They are pounding on the pavement as feet running to be at your side.
Patience… please stop running; you are abandoning all your help!
My plan was set in motion when your first tear hit my hand.
I am your way, my sojourner; your road is up ahead.
Make plans after you’ve listened; not while you are trying to understand.
Willful dispositions, glide on the surface like glass,
The reflections are all around us; the image of each man.
My image is why you were created as my father said it was to be,
Mighty men with wasted power ‘til my reflection is what is seen.
Trials and tribulations focus the eyes to see,
Whose reflection is in the mirror?
Judging what is to be…
Focus placed on the superficial, mirrors life gone by,
In the valley of destruction, shadows still reflect
Until challenge breaks the mirror, casting fragments out of reach.
Moving forward now takes decisions,
The eye and mind unite within ,
The heart discerns the image…
Showing a reflection of the true man.
Look past the day you’re traveling,
To the hands holding back the storm,
No valley will overtake you,
No journey will be too long.
I am the Man, and you, my shadow,
I walk through the valley first,
I rose and now you’re with me,
No matter what we’re passing through.
I cast my shadow with purpose,
Made from blocking harsh light,
Harm can only come to the person,
I am that person, your Christ.
The reflection is not tangible, nor the shadow that has been set,
This is just as the spirit, transcendent of the flesh,
Reality is a lesson, the mind a tool to tame.
The learned are My inspiration… My leaders among all men.

By Candace Huffmaster ©

Psalms 103 (GWT)Praise the LORD, my soul! Praise his holy name, all that is within me. Praise the LORD, my soul, and never forget all the good he has done:

He is the one who forgives all your sins, the one who heals all your diseases, the one who rescues your life from the pit, the one who crowns you with mercy and compassion, the one who fills your life with blessings
so that you become young again like an eagle.

The LORD does what is right and fair for all who are oppressed. He let Moses know his ways. He let the Israelites know the things he had done. The LORD is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive.
He will not always accuse us of wrong or be angry {with us} forever. He has not treated us as we deserve for our sins or paid us back for our wrongs. As high as the heavens are above the earth— that is how vast his mercy is toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west— that is how far he has removed our rebellious acts from himself. As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. He certainly knows what we are made of. He bears in mind that we are dust. Human life is as short-lived as grass. It blossoms like a flower in the field. When the wind blows over the flower, it disappears, and there is no longer any sign of it. But from everlasting to everlasting, the LORD’s mercy is on those who fear him. His righteousness belongs to their children and grandchildren, to those who are faithful to his promise, to those who remember to follow his guiding principles. The LORD has set his throne in heaven. His kingdom rules everything.

Praise the LORD, all his angels, you mighty beings who carry out his orders and are ready to obey his spoken orders. Praise the LORD, all his armies,his servants who carry out his will. Praise the LORD, all his creatures in all the places of his empire. Praise the LORD, my soul!

Luke 1: 74-79 He promised to rescue us from our enemies' power so that we could serve him without fear by being holy and honorable as long as we live. "You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way. You will make his people know that they can be saved through the forgiveness of their sins. A new day will dawn on us from above because our God is loving and merciful. He will give light to those who live in the dark and in death's shadow. He will guide us into the way of peace."

May 12, 2010

Ministry in Word

Things Unshaken – Part 5
那不被震动的 – 第五篇

Hebrews 12:26-28 (NKJV)
希伯來書12:26-28

but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

当时他的声音震动了地,但如今他应许说:再一次我不单要震动地,还要震动天。这再一次的话,是指明被震动的,就是受造之物都要挪去,使那不被震动的常存。所以我们既得了不能震动的国,就当感恩,照神所喜悦的,用虔诚、敬畏的心事奉神。

Last 3 weeks we examined 6 of the 10 aspects of receiving the unshakable kingdom that will remain. Now we continue with the next three.

上三周我们察看了我们领受那不被震动,常存的这国十个方面之六方面。现在我 们要看下三方面。

7. BY FOLLOWING JESUS
七、 藉着跟随耶稣

Receiving the kingdom means entering the kingdom and living out the kingdom citizenship. As a believer of Jesus Christ we enter the kingdom and as a disciple of Jesus Christ we follow Him. Entering the kingdom is the starting point for a believer’s journey as Jesus’ disciple. Being a disciple of Jesus means following Him wherever He goes and giving our top priority to the kingdom business. In the Bible Jesus was calling a person to follow Him, that person said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Lk 9:61-62) We have put our hands to the plow when we accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Now how can we still look back and be unfit for the kingdom of God?

领受国度的意思是指进入国度又活出国度的公民身分。作为耶稣基督的信徒我们进入国度,作为耶稣基督的门徒我们跟随他。进入国度是信徒走上耶稣门徒的旅程之始点。成为耶稣门徒的意思就是无论他到那里去都跟着他和给国度的事情最高优先。圣经中记载耶稣呼召一个人来跟随他,那人说,「主,我要跟从你,但容我先去辞别我家里的人。」但耶稣对他说:「手扶着犁向後看的,不配进神的国。」〔路9:61-62〕当我们接受耶稣为我们的救主与主时,我们就手扶着犁了。我们怎能仍向後看的,以致不配进神的国呢?

We need to put our heart on Jesus to follow Him. We need to love Him most, because where our treasure is, there our heart will also be (Mt 6:21). Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell his possessions and give to the poor, to have treasure in heaven and to follow Jesus. But this young man’s heart was tied up with his wealth, so he went away sad instead of following Jesus and entering the kingdom (Mt 19:21-24).

我们须要把我们的心放在耶稣身上来跟随他。我们须要爱他最多,因为我们的财 宝在那里,我们的心也在那里。〔太6:21〕耶稣告诉那位年青富有的官去变卖他 所有财产,分给穷人,来积财宝在天,然後跟随耶稣。但这年青人的心与他的财富绑在一起,所以他没有跟随耶稣和进入国度,反而忧愁离去〔太19:21-24〕。

Apparently he loved money more than God.
看来他爱金钱比爱神多。

8. BY LOVING GOD
八、 透过爱神

James says in the Bible that God has “chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him.” (Jas 2:5) We may be poor in the spirit but rich in faith. God has chosen us who love Him to be heirs of the kingdom. We love God because He has first loved us.

雅各在圣经中说神「拣选了世上的贫穷人,叫他们在信上富足,并承受他所应许 给那些爱他之人的国」〔雅2:5〕。我们可能在灵里贫穷〔虚心〕但在信上富足。神拣选了我们这些爱他的人来承受国度。我们爱神因为他先爱我们。

9. BY PERSEVERING IN THE FAITH
九、 藉着恒守所信的道

We enter the kingdom also by persevering in the faith. The kingdom is here and now in the hearts of the believers, but it will be fully manifested when Jesus returns. We will be part of that kingdom. In the mean time we must continue in the faith, as Paul and Barnabas told the believers in the city of Derbe, saying “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’” (Ac 14:22) Jesus had also said that if the world persecuted Him, we as His followers, can expect persecutions. Our persecutions may be little or great, but we must continue in our faith to receive the kingdom. That will be the evidence of our relationship with God.

我们藉着恒守所信的道进入国度。现今国度已在信徒的心里,但当耶稣再来时它会全然出现。在这段时期中我们必须恒守所信的道,就如保罗和巴拿巴告诉特庇的信徒要「坚固门徒的心,劝他们恒守所信的道;又说:我们进入神的国,必须经历许多艰难。」〔徒14:22〕耶稣也曾说如果世界逼迫他,我们跟随他的也必受逼迫。我们的逼迫可轻可重,但我们必要恒守所信的道来领受国度。那将会是我们与神关系的证据。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we put our heart on Jesus to follow Him, loving Him more than anything in our life.
May we also persevere in our faith, overcoming temptation to enter His kingdom.

愿我们把心放在耶稣身上来跟随他,爱他多过爱我们生命中任何东西更多。愿我们亦恒守我们所信的道,胜过试探来进入他的国。

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

May 11, 2010

Listen to Me ...Believe in Him!

John 5: 31  (GWT) "If I testify on my own behalf, what I say isn't true, someone else testifies on my behalf, and I know that what he says about me is true.

John 5:37-40 (GWT) The Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.  You have never heard his voice, and you have never seen his form.  So you don't have the Father's message within you, becaue you don't believe in the person he has sent.  You study the scriptures in detail because you think you have the source of eternal life in them.  These scriptures testify on my behalf.  Yet you don't want to come to me to get "eternal" life.

In all that we have been studying we know that Christ tells us to HEAR what he says, but believe in the one that sent him.  A few weeks ago we addressed discerning who you could see beyond the person speaking.  These verses above are the final pieces to understanding why it is so important to look at the full sphere of an individual.  Is God being magnified or is it all about "self".  Don't get me wrong, help can still be offered to another person when God is left out.  But it will be "self" help.  Do they try to lead you to help that will not end up with you doing it all your "self".  Will they be leaving you after their wisdom leaves the platform.

There is only one that can help you when all other leave. That is the person of Jesus Christ. 

Besure to notice if the person is the shadow of Christ.  If they are throwing the shadow, beware.  Think about that for the next 24 hours. We will pick up here tomorrow.

I pray that the Son shine on you today and others see you in His shadow.
With Love,
Candace

May 10, 2010

The Bottom Line on Profit, now this is Good!

John 5:25 (NAS) Truly, Truly, I say to you an hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live.


John 5:25-28 (NAS) “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment…because He is “Son of Man”.

We all love Guarantee’s don’t we? That lets us off the hook, no buyer’s remorse. “I can guarantee this truth: Those who listen to what I say and believe in the one who sent me will have eternal life.”

So today, let’s ponder a couple more things.

The scriptures yesterday stated that the Father doesn’t judge, He entrusted judgment entirely to the Son so that everyone will honor the Son…as they honor the Father. There is so much meaning in that scripture. God loves and trust Christ so much that He doesn’t think Christ will mess up the whole judgment thing. Wow, can you honestly say you would just let your older sibling take over disciplining your younger child - You would be hands off no questions asked?

Well if we look beyond the surface we will see that in this way of thinking we will never get it. In John 5:21 Christ was quoted as saying, “ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes, “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given ALL judgment to the Son.” God does not judge so Christ does not judge. He trusts that Christ will not judge anyone. Believing this we are honoring Christ as we are honoring God.

Christ also says if we listen to what He (Christ) says and believes in God we will have eternal life. Why? – Because He won’t judge you. Why? Because you bypassed death and made it to life. How? God made Christ to take on death. There was a battle between life and death and Christ fought it to the death. But God has life in Himself and gave to the Son life in Himself. What Christ was doing was “executing” judgment which leads to death. In doing this He himself became the bridge of Life for us all to walk across that great divide. He laid across the void where the bridge to Death was. His hands were anchored on one land, nailed into the rocks on that shoreline; His feet were nailed securely on the other rocky shore. We simply have to believe it is secure and take the step, move across. (Go back and read the segments on fear of bridges if you would like more details here)

Then in verse 28 which we will close out “there is Good and there is good”, Christ states Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice and shall come forth; those who did the good to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil to a resurrection of judgment.

If Christ was the executer of judgment it is best to know the Greek word in which we translated it from. Poieo means to make, it is derived from the root word poios which means quality. Poieo means to endow a person or thing with a certain quality (such as life, strength, courage, health etc) and to qualify it at the same time. It also means to appoint or constitute. It is the opposite of a Greek word prasso, which would bring out the means in which something was obtained, (all the steps etc.)

If we believe that Christ executed judgment then that would refer to it being done once for all. It would also make sense that in doing this there is no more great divide. We have now this same life within our self and although we are an independent creation we walk in the same love that God has endowed us with.

Agathos in Greek means good, however it is a good with benevolence it is useful while being profitable. Good if it does not benefit another, is not profitable, it is evil and you have chosen to take a bridge that might look wise, but it leads to an island. Christ states in verse 31 If I bear witness to myself MY testimony is not true. We will pick up here tomorrow.

I pray that “today” we all hear what the spirit of the Lord is telling us, receive it and be healed of our unbelief. Let’s cross this bridge together.

With the Love of Christ,
Candace

May 9, 2010

Who's is My Mother?

Mark 3:35 (GWT) Whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister and mother.


On mother’s day I think first of all I need to say “happy mother’s day” to all the mom’s of the world. I want to ask you, whether you are male or female, who have you been a mother to? While biological mothers give physical birth any gender can be the spiritual mother. Just as Mary was the earthly carrier of Christ it was God and the Spirit who did the rest of the process. Who’s Mary are you?

God’s word explains many times the fact that we are born into death by our natural birth. But it in Romans it states: Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? When we were baptized into his death, we were placed into the tomb with him. As Christ was brought back from death to life by the glorious power of the Father, so we, too, should live a new kind of life. If we've become united with him in a death like his, certainly we will also be united with him when we come back to life as he did. We know that the person we used to be was crucified with him to put an end to sin in our bodies.

I surely say all this with humility; after all I am a mother myself. The last thing I desire to think of is that I gave my children life only to die. But that is the truth, we all know it..from the first breath we take we are one step closer to taking our last. God gave us, through Him, a human life time to save their eternal life. He even tell us to keep our authority in check when he tells us “The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple.”

I love being a mother, I love my mother, but even today as I celebrate this – I give thanks to God for knowing the truth and seek to give thank to many unmentioned mothers today.

Everything is from him and by him and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen!

With Love,
Candace

May 8, 2010

There is good and there is GOOD

That You May Marvel
from Experiencing God Day by Day devotional

"The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel." (John 5:19-20)




Jesus, realizing that His role was that of a servant, never sought to initiate activity for the Father (Matt. 20:28). The servant never sets the agenda—the master does. The servant must be so alert to what the master is doing that whenever the master begins to move in a direction the servant quickly joins him. Even the Son of God did not assume He knew the best thing to do in a situation. Instead, He looked to see the Father’s activity and then joined Him. Jesus knew His Father so well that He was keenly sensitive to divine activity around Him, immediately recognizing His Father at work.



It is possible for us to be so busy trying to bring God into our activity that we don’t even notice Him at work around us. He seeks to redirect our attention so that we might join Him, but we tend to be self-centered, evaluating everything by how it affects us. We must learn to view events around us from God’s perspective. Then we will see our world very differently. When God brings someone across our path, we will look to see if God is convicting that person of his need for salvation. Perhaps God is comforting someone in her sorrow. God might be encouraging your friend as she faces a challenge. We will then adjust our lives to join God as He works in that person’s life. We ought to live each day with tremendous anticipation as we look to see where God is working around us. As our eyes are opened to His activity, we will marvel at His great works. -By Blackaby


When I read this the first thought was "So when things are not flowing I must have stepped out of God's work and into MY work". I wish it were as simple as that. It is as if we are in a thick rain forest of distraction trying desperately to discern where God is and God is not. Our world is so filled with people who know how to walk the walk and hide the agenda. Yet if we stick close enough, for long enough their true intentions will finally be revealed. Isn't that what God promised? Light will shine into darkness and show it for what it is. But how dark is that darkness? We desire to put it on a scale from 1 to 10. This distorts our perception, dark is dark and light is light.  There is no scale, except on our eyes.  That is why we are in the rain forest isn't it? We see how lush it is. We are drawn to its color, sound, it is very surreal from the exterior. We know that there is a high possibility that IT has to offer the experience we have been looking for, the place we are to be. So let us ponder, what if...we ARE looking for God in the rain forest and not simply a vain experience to grow "our person". What if..we think the reason it is so surreal is due to the supernatural outpour of God's essence? Wouldn't that be the most wooing of all? Isn't that what we desire to experience? And there it is again...that is a self experience. If you have ever listened to more than 5 of Joyce Meyer's segments you will hear her drone "What about me, What about me, What about me!" The reason we have to laugh is because it is real...some times it is a nervous laugh =D. Okay, let's try this one more time..What if... we see it, think it is surreal so surely we will find God there? Well, maybe what we should have been asking is why am I not with God before I get there? God is everywhere...He is not in an experience..he is the experience.

Further down in John 5:22-25 which I will close with and pick up here tomorrow it states:

"The Father doesn't judge anyone. He has entrusted judgment entirely to the Son so that everyone will honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever doesn't honor the Son doesn't honor the Father who sent him. I can guarantee this truth: Those who listen to what I say and believe in the one who sent me will have eternal life. They won't be judged because they have already passed from death to life. "I can guarantee this truth: A time is coming (and is now here) when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who respond to it will live. The Father is the source of life, and he has enabled the Son to be the source of life too. "He has also given the Son authority to pass judgment because he is the Son of Man. Don't be surprised at what I've just said. A time is coming when all the dead will hear his voice, and they will come out of their tombs. Those who have done good will come back to life and live. But those who have done evil will come back to life and will be judged.

I thank God that He doesn't judge anyone and that the Son has promised we are saved from what we do not understand. I thank God he has mercy on us and give us the grace to stick in every time we miss it. I pray for us all to extend this Kindness in God's love to everyone, knowing all things are common to us. And this was even the work of God so that none of us could boast.

With the Love of our Christ covering each of you,
Candace

May 7, 2010

Ministery in Word

Things Unshaken – Part 4
那不被震动的 – 第四篇

Hebrews 12:26-28 (NKJV)
希伯來書12:26-28
but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

当时他的声音震动了地,但如今他应许说:再一次我不单要震动地,还要震动  天。这再一次的话,是指明被震动的,就是受造之物都要挪去,使那不被震动的常存。所以我们既得了不能震动的国,就当感恩,照神所喜悦的,用虔诚、敬畏的心事奉神。

Last 2 weeks we examined 4 of the 10 aspects of receiving the unshakable kingdom thatwill remain. Now we continue with the next two.

上两周我们察看了我们领受那不被震动,常存的这国十个方面之四方面。现在我们要看下两方面。

5. BY BEING REDEEMED THROUGH CHRIST
五、 藉着基督得救赎

Let’s look at another aspect of receiving the kingdom. According to Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians, it is God the Father “who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col 1:12-14) So this is God’s process of rescuing us from the dominion of darkness and putting us into the kingdom of light: God the Father qualifies us through His sovereignty, and God the Son redeems us through His blood, to provide us with the forgiveness of sins.

让我们观察领受国度的另外一个方面。按照使徒保罗给歌罗西信徒的信,那是父神「叫我们能与众圣徒在光明中同得基业。他救了我们脱离黑暗的权势,把我们迁到他爱子的国里;我们在爱子里得蒙救赎,罪过得以赦免。」〔西1:12-14〕所以这就是神救我们脱离黑暗的管辖,把我们放进光明的国里的过程:父神照他的主权叫我们能得基业,和圣子藉着他的血救赎我们,使我们的罪得赦免。

Ministry in Word/
真理之言

Today we must give thanks to God for choosing us, saving us, and forgiving us, for we are sinners not deserving God’s grace.

今天我们必须因为神拣选我们,救我们和赦免我们而感谢神,因为我们是罪人不配得神的恩惠。

6. BY ACCEPTING CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
六、 透过接受基督的义

God’s salvation plan for us comes with no cost to us, demands no work from us, so is our God a permissive God who sets aside His law and indulges His creatures? Certainly not. Jesus declared during His Sermon on the Mount that He came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them (Mt 5:17). He also said, “unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:20). The scribes and Pharisees followed the law to its letters, yet Jesus questioned the adequacy of their righteousness. We are to have righteousness far greater than theirs. How then can anyone receive the kingdom? The answer is, it is only by accepting Christ’s righteousness that we are counted as righteous before God. After we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, our sins are cleansed in the blood of Jesus and we, the sinners, take on the righteousness of Jesus who has no sin at all. This is how
we are justified by God.

神对我们的救赎计划是免费的,不要求我们费力做什麽的,那麽我们的神是否是一位纵容的神,废掉他的律法来放任他的被造物呢?肯定不是。耶稣在他的登山宝训中宣称他来不是要废掉律法,乃是要成全〔太5:17〕。他又说,「你们的义若不胜於文士和法利赛人的义,断不能进天国。」〔太5:20〕文士和法利赛人守律法守到它的仪文细节,但耶稣说他们的义仍不足够。我们须要有远超过他们的义。那麽有谁可以领受国度呢?答案是只有藉着接受基督的义我们在神面前才被算为义。我们接纳耶稣为我们的救主以後,我们的罪在耶稣的血中洗净,我们这些罪人就得到完全无罪的耶稣的义。这就是我们被神称义的方法。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

For those of us who have received God’s kingdom, let us give Him thanks and praise.For those of us whom the Holy Spirit is calling to enter His kingdom through His Son Jesus, may we repent of our sin and receive Jesus into our life.

对我们中已领受神的国的人,让我们感谢和赞美他。对我们中圣灵正在呼唤藉他儿子耶稣去进入他的国的人,愿我们悔改我们的罪和接受耶稣进入我们的生命中。

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

Do I REALLY have to fight?

God so often makes me giggle. Yesterday was a super taxing day for me, just when I want to say "uncle" ..."you win, okay", God steps in and says just take a deep breath...a time out...you'll make it! So that is what I finally did by the end of the day. I laid myself down and said I will just trust you, believe what you have said and rest. Today, I decided to go to an older devotional that I never tired of. I went to their site to pull up their daily devotion.


After a good night sleep, God reminded me "Today, you fight for Me!" I will post that after the devotion.

I pray that in our weakest moments we are broken to our knees so that we can rise in His strength, courage and perseverance. To the God be the honor and glory and power for ever. Amen.

In Christ,
Candace


Go up and Possess It
By Richard Blackaby


Look, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the LORD God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 1:21)

One of the paradoxes of the Christian life is that God’s gifts often require labor on our part. God brought the Israelites to the Promised Land and told them He was going to “give” it to them (Num. 13:2). The gift of the Promised Land sounded great to the Israelites until they realized that, with the gift, came battles against giants and fortified cities! Perhaps they assumed God was going to obliterate the inhabitants of the land before they entered. Ideally for the Israelites, they could then have entered a vacant land with houses and cities already built and ready to inhabit.

Instead, God said they would have to fight for it. They would not have to fight in their own strength, however; God would be present to fight for them. God would bring down the walls of cities, give them strategies to defeat their enemies, and empower their warriors to fight. The Israelites would have a divine advantage over anyone they fought, but they would still have to fight.

It would be wonderful if, when we become Christians, God would fill our minds with a complete knowledge of the Bible and with Bible verses already memorized. It would be easy if God would instill in us a delight in spending hours in prayer each day and a fearless desire to share our faith with others. But God doesn’t relate to us that way. Instead, He gives us the free gift of His salvation and then tells us to “work out” our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12b). Are you discouraged because the Christian life is more difficult and challenging than you expected? Don’t be. God’s gifts to you are perfect because, through them, God makes you perfect as well (Matt. 5:48; James 1:17).


Building of Today
If it is my word,
    it is to be today through all known time.
No doubt shall change what is,
    what is known is what shall be.
Faith is believing all,
    knowing what shall come will pass.
Those who are my own,
    are standing sure on what is firming under feet.
Reality is tomorrow,
    not moments fading away.
Yesterday built today,
    the tomorrow which fades to grey.
In what do you know of this reality,
    you so claim to understand?
A mind that I created,
    with limits of a man.
The known is not among those:
    who lavish on themselves,
    to squander and belittle,
    the majesty of His will.
By Candace Huffmaster
© 2006 All Rights Reserved


Not Today!

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 gone.

Today, my spirit stands tall
Today, I hear your voice,
    and today your victory is true
Today, I fight for YOU!
By Candace Huffmaster
© 2006 All Rights Reserved

May 4, 2010

Deeply, Honestly, Passionately and Freely

Ephesians 3:14-21 (GWTW) This is the reason I kneel in the presence of the Father from whom all the families in heaven and on earth receives its name. I'm asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of His glory. I pray that He would give you inner strength and power through His spirit. Then Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the ground into which you sink your roots and on which you have your foundation. This way, with all of God's people you will be able to understand how wide, long, high and deep his love is. You will know Christ's love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God.

 
Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power He can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory belongs to God in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time and eternity Amen.

 ...and I too am lifting this prayer over us all today so that we may be completely filled with God.


When I got really serious about changing how I saw my future, where I was supposed to be headed and how God intended me to get there, I stopped. It was not a stop in your tracks, dead stop. At least not at first. I did not have that type of faith. I had the faith of a mustard seed. But as we know even that is enough to move the mental mountains I had piled onto my life...piece by trashy piece. I thank God that He is the one that levels things and I thank God that through the past 30 years He was heading me back to where I was supposed to be in the first place. That is how wide, long, high and deep his love is and this is what we strive to show individuals each day as we minister to them deeply, honestly, passionately but mostly freely.

"With wings that will carry, cover and lift"
Love,
Candace

God’s Devotion

That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend . . . the love of Christ which passes knowledge. —Ephesians 3:17-19

 
In 1826, the British author Thomas Carlyle married Jane Welsh, who also was an accomplished writer. She dedicated herself to his success and served him wholeheartedly.

Because of a stomach ailment and a nervous disorder, he had a rather ornery temperament. So she made special meals for him and tried to keep the house as quiet as possible so he could do his writing.

Thomas didn’t often recognize Jane’s helpful spirit nor did he spend much time with her. However, he wrote this about her to his mother: “I may say in my heart that she . . . loves me with a devotedness which is a mystery to me how I have ever deserved. She . . . looks with such soft cheerfulness into my gloomy countenance, that new hope passed into me every time I met her eye.”

We too have Someone who loves us with a devotedness that is a mystery how we as sinners ever deserved it! He is God the Father, “who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all” (Rom. 8:32). His love is wide, long, deep, and high and exceeds our knowledge (Eph. 3:18-19).

Understanding and appreciating God’s love is so vital that Paul prayed for the Ephesians to be “rooted and grounded” in it (v.17). May that be our experience as well. — by Anne Cetas http://www.rbc.org/

I can always count on God, my heavenly Father,
For He changes not; He always is the same;
Yesterday, today, forever, He is faithful,
And I know He loves me, praise His holy name. —Felten

There is no greater joy than to know God loves you.

May 3, 2010

The Importance of Honest Relationships..first with God..

Vital Intercession by Oswald Chambers


. . praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit . . . —Ephesians 6:18

As we continue on in our intercession for others, we may find that our obedience to God in interceding is going to cost those for whom we intercede more than we ever thought. The danger in this is that we begin to intercede in sympathy with those whom God was gradually lifting up to a totally different level in direct answer to our prayers. Whenever we step back from our close identification with God’s interest and concern for others and step into having emotional sympathy with them, the vital connection with God is gone. We have then put our sympathy and concern for them in the way, and this is a deliberate rebuke to God.
It is impossible for us to have living and vital intercession unless we are perfectly and completely sure of God. And the greatest destroyer of that confident relationship to God, so necessary for intercession, is our own personal sympathy and preconceived bias. Identification with God is the key to intercession, and whenever we stop being identified with Him it is because of our sympathy with others, not because of sin. It is not likely that sin will interfere with our intercessory relationship with God, but sympathy will. It is sympathy with ourselves or with others that makes us say, “I will not allow that thing to happen.” And instantly we are out of that vital connection with God.

Vital intercession leaves you with neither the time nor the inclination to pray for your own “sad and pitiful self.” You do not have to struggle to keep thoughts of yourself out, because they are not even there to be kept out of your thinking. You are completely and entirely identified with God’s interests and concerns in other lives. God gives us discernment in the lives of others to call us to intercession for them, never so that we may find fault with them.

May 2, 2010

The True Wizard of Oz

Isaiah 53: 1-3 (GWTW)
Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD’s power been revealed? 2 He grew up in his presence like a young tree, like a root out of dry ground. He had no form or majesty that would make us look at him. He had nothing in his appearance that would make us desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by people. He was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. He was despised like one from whom people turn their faces, and we didn’t consider him to be worth anything.


We looked yesterday at why Dorothy, Tinman, Scarecrow and Lion were seeking out the Wizard of Oz.  They were following this road encouraging each other because he could fill them up in area's they felt they were lacking.  We all know that he had no magical powers and that none were needed.  The fabulous four were fabulous all the while. 

As with what we have been looking through over the past year, I see the truth in what God what showing me as I searched the roadways of my life through His eyes.  "The answer is the sojourning; the question and endless plight"  Today I want to look at the Wizard and ask this quesiton "What was He THINKING!"

Seriously, who in their right mind puts themself in that type of position.  Who really has anything to say better than the next person - and best questions EVER...Why in the world would you listen to him?????   Isn't that the reason he knew he had to hide?  He knew he had nothing to say any better than the next person.  Look at the kingdom he had built.  He knew it was a farce, he was a farce.  The poor guy got so parinoid that he had to close himself off from everyone layer, by layer, by layer.  He had to move from wise people so that his secret would not be discovered.  This is where our scripture for today enters.

If even Christ did not lead us to himself but to something beyond himself, shouldn't that be our first clue when seeking wisdom from someone.  Who are they showing you?  God or themself?  If they are the image you see beware!  It states that he had no form or majesty that would make us look at him.  He never tries to "take the glory".  He desire for us to "give him the glory". 

That is love, doing something for someone else and not looking for the self gratification in any form.  It is purely because you care.  Seek that type of help, widsom, and support.  It will lead to to the "true wizard of Oz"

I pray that you all find what you are seeking...and that what you are seeking is the Kingdom of God.  I pray that you find whom you are in Christ along the yellow brick road and share with others all the way.

In Christ,
Candace