July 31, 2010

Our God - from Our Daily Bread devotional

The Bible’s first chapter addresses the most fundamental issues of life. It declares that God brought all things into existence. This should affect the way we live.

The writer of Genesis made the radical declaration that there is one God. That truth stood in sharp contrast to the polytheism and idolatry of the ancient world. The description of each creation day denounced the various gods worshiped by the pagans of Moses’ day and declared that they were not gods at all—just creations of the one and only true and living God.

On day 1, gods of light and darkness are dismissed; day 2, gods of sea and sky; day 3, gods of earth and vegetation; day 4, sun, moon, and star gods; days 5 and 6, animal gods. And finally, humans. Even though all people are granted a divine likeness, they too are only created beings and must never be worshiped.
This account gives the foundation for Israel’s covenant with God. For example, why do the Ten Commandments prohibit the worship of other gods? Because God alone is the maker of heaven and earth. Why is murder wrong? Because human beings are created in God’s image.
Let’s make it our goal to get to know the true and living God.

So many gods have all come and gone,
Gods of earth, of sky, and of sea;
But God the Creator alone will stand
Tests of time and eternity. —Carbaugh



In the beginning—God.

July 30, 2010

Where One Begins Another Ends

So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. God blessed them and said, “Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.”  God said, “I have given you every plant with seeds on the face of the earth and every tree that has fruit with seeds. This will be your food.



As of today we are through the 29th verse of chapter 1 in Genesis.  I can see why God had to create everything else BEFORE he created man.  We have not even been able to get to chapter 2 due to "common things" that befall us as humans.  This is a great point to stop and look at why God designed and set boundaries and said that they were good.  He understands the need for order to be separated from chaos.  We are here to help others however we cannot take over another's life - that area is what God determined to be "choice".  Choice is an "individual" right. 
 
Boundaries get blurred in community.  Without community or closeness we have no need for a boundary.  So let us all remember that where our personal property line ends is where another ends - or we could say it is where another begins.  However, we do not have "rights to theirs.  If they want us to not encroach we have to realize that is their choice.  We take that really personally though; why wouldn't someone want us in their stuff, next to them?  Sometimes people will tell us and other times they really don't even know.  Sometimes it has something to do with us and sometimes it doesn't.
 
The bottom line is we were made in God's image: male and female, and we have other things we are supposed to be addressing other than ruling over space rights.  We are supposed to be multiplying the image of Christ.  That starts and ends with treating others with Agape Love. 
 
In the beginning we can see that violence and blood shed where never part of God's plan.  He wanted us to rule over the animals.  To subdue the things that were not in His image.  We humans are the higher evolution of His divine creation for a purpose. 
 
He also stated all things have seeds and fertile ground for reproduction isn't it awesome that this is common from earth to man  - and that man was formed from earth.  I find God so amazing, I cannot begin to wrap my mind around all the implications of these verses, but then again we have all eternity to get it!
 
I pray that each of you enjoy this day that the Lord gave you..
In Love,
Candace

July 29, 2010

They Have Not Because They Do Not Ask

We are asking if there is anyone that would be able to run gift card, food, clothing, forms, information to a woman in crisis.  We have so many women to reach each day, but so few of us to take what we have been given for their needs to be met in a timely fashion.  We are daily running across the metro area and outer areas to meet all the overwhelming lack of these families that are displaced.  If you have the time, we will give you the gas to take what God desires to give. 

Please Call Us if you feel God would like to use you in this capacity.
With the appreciation and Love of Christ,
Candace
404-432-0589

Luke 11:8-10 (GOD’S WORD Translation)


8I can guarantee that although he doesn’t want to get up to give you anything, he will get up and give you whatever you need because he is your friend and because you were so bold.

9“So I tell you to ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the person who knocks, the door will be opened.

Mark 11:23-25

23"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
24"Therefore I say to you,all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.
25"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.

Eternal Flame

When I was reading the devotion from Ministry in Word yesterday I was reminded of an oil painting that God graced me with the ability to accomplish as a witness to His hearts intent.  I am loading the picture below as well as what God translated through the image and His written word. 

I am also reminded and thankful for the Ministries He has put in place to reach beyond the walls of His body.  Drawing to the Rock and Glimpse of His Glory are just two of such Ministries spilling the creativity of our God out from the hearts and minds of His people to meet unsuspecting individuals right where they are.  I know it is their and the artists hope that the individuals gazing upon these works that Christ will be seen, God will be heard and the Holy Spirit will be received.

It is not the skill of the artist that should be magnified, each work no matter how we deem the skill level is precious in His sight.  He looks at the hearts intent and uses it for His purposes, in His timing, for His will to be done.

Let us remember to encourage those doing the work for Him, not because they are perfect at it....but because they listen and obey for His Name Sake and Glory.

With the Love of our Christ I pray that today each of us take a risk, move out of our comfort zone and believe in the reality of the Lord God Almighty - otherwise the ones along our way might not see Him, turn to Him and be healed for eternity.

Kisses,
Candace


"Eternal Flame"
oil on canvas

2 Peter 3:10 (GWT)
The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have done on it will be exposed.

The cross is God's salvation plan for the lost.  Noone gets to the Father except through the Son.  It is through our belief in Him and acceptance of His gift that we have eternal life.  When I hear the firehouse alarms, I think about the day of the Lord and wonder if anyone else thinks about when it might be, or if they even know what we as Christians know.  I think about how God provides the perfect situations in our lives to communicate His love and His desire for us to have life in abundance.  We are called to listen, hear, and look deeper than this life and to share with the heart of our Savior. 
How tragic if all that transpires from such a calamity is the replacement of lost earthly possessions.  I pray that we all look deeper, move more swiftly and reach more passionately - all the while thanking Christ for His life.

By Candace Huffmaster ©2006 all rights reserved

July 28, 2010

Ministry in Words

A Lost Person – Part 4
失丧的人 – 第四篇

Lk 19:1-10
路加19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' " But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
耶稣进了耶利哥,正经过的时候,有一个人名叫撒该,作税吏长,是个财主。他要看看耶稣是怎样的人;只因人多,他的身量又矮,所以不得看见,就跑到前头,爬上桑树,要看耶稣,因为耶稣必从那里经过。耶稣到了那里,抬头一看,对他说:撒该,快下来!今天我必住在你家里。他就急忙下来,欢欢喜喜的接待耶稣。众人看见,都私下议论说:他竟到罪人家里去住宿。撒该站着对主说:主阿,我把所有的一半给穷人;我若讹诈了谁,就还他四倍。耶稣说:今天救恩到了这家,因为他也是亚伯拉罕的子孙。人子来,为要寻找,拯救失丧的人。

Continued from Part 3
上接第三篇

4. Jesus took the initiative to build a relationship with Zacchaeus
四、 耶稣主动地与撒该建立关系

Jesus himself wanted to stay at Zacchaeus’ house, to give him mercy in spite of what the people might think.
不管人会怎样想,耶稣自己要住在撒该的家来赐他怜悯。

-Jesus gave Zacchaeus an opportunity to host him, to practice hospitality. Zacchaeus must not have too many chances to receive fellow Jews because none would want to associate with a tax collector. He might have a beautiful home, with many servants, but without guests it was not lively at all.
-Hospitality is often mentioned in the Bible as a virtue. Nowadays many Christian homes are used for gospel’s sake, and God blesses them. They also have the satisfaction of seeing many seekers getting saved.
-Once Zacchaeus received Jesus to his home, it brought about great changes.
-Jesus gave Zacchaeus the chance to receive Him, not only into his home, but also into his heart. When he wanted to receive Jesus into his home, he had to decide to receive Him in his heart. When one decides to receive Jesus into his heart, his life will be changed. For nobody can receive Jesus without being changed!
-耶稣给撒该招待他的机会,来实践款待客人。撒该一定没有太多机会来接待他的犹太同胞因为他们都不要与税吏来往。他可能有一个辉煌的家,有许多仆人,但没有客人就缺乏活泼的气氛。
-招待客旅是圣经常提及的一个美德。今日许多基督教家庭为福音的缘故开放,神就祝福他们。他们也因看到许多慕道友得救而心满意足。-一旦撒该接待耶稣到他家里,就带来重大的改变。
-耶稣给撒该接待他的机会,不单进入他的家,也进入他的心。当他要接待耶稣进入他的家的时候,他就须要决定接待耶稣进入他的心。当一个人决定要接待耶稣进入他的心的时候,他的生命就要改变,因为没有人能接待耶稣而不被改变的!

5. Jesus’ love brought about Zacchaeus’ actions that matched his repentance
五、 耶稣的爱引起撒该与他的悔改相称的行动

The Bible doesn’t indicate that Jesus called for Zacchaeus’ repentance or whether he repented or not. However, Zacchaeus did say, “Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house,because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” Zacchaeus’ action proved his repentance,
and we also know by Jesus’ comment that he had repented.
圣经没有表示耶稣要求撒该悔改或者他有否悔改。不过撒该有说:「我把所有的一半给穷人;我若讹诈了谁,就还他四倍。」而耶稣对他说:「今天救恩到了这家,因为他也是亚伯拉罕的子孙。」撒该的行动证实了他的悔改,而我们也因耶稣所说的话知道他有悔改。

Conclusion
结论

Through Jesus’ example we have learned of His love for the lost and the following key elements of His evangelism:
从耶稣的模范我们知道他爱失丧的人和下面他传福音的一些基本要素:

1. Jesus knew about Zacchaeus before He reached out to him. We must first get to know the person with whom we want to share the gospel.
一、 在耶稣向撒该伸手之前他就认识撒该。我们也须先认识我们要与其分享福音的对象。

2. We must, like Jesus, take initiative to connect with the person.
二、 像耶稣一般我们须要采取主动与这人连系。

3. Jesus accepted Zacchaeus even when the Jews rejected him. We must accept the lost person but not his sins.
三、 什至当犹太人唾弃撒该的时候耶稣接纳他。我们一定要接纳失丧的人但不是要接纳他的罪。

4. Jesus took initiative to call Zacchaeus. We must take initiative to build a relationship with the lost person, to love him as God loves him.
四、 耶稣主动地去叫撒该。我们定要主动地与失丧的人建立关系,去爱他犹如神爱他一般。

5. Zacchaeus received Jesus and his life was changed. We must lead the lost person to receive Jesus, to live a new life.

五、 撒该接待耶稣,他的生命就被改变了。我们定要带领失丧的人来接纳耶稣,来活出一个新的生命。

The September 1985 issue of Times-Reporter reported this news story:
时代-记者1985年九月刊报告这个新闻故事:

A party was held beside a public swimming pool in the City of New Orleans to celebrate their first year without any drowning in their public pools. Among the 200 people attended the party 100 of them were certified lifeguards. When the party was about to end, 4 lifeguards on duty began to clean the pool when they found in the deep end a body dressed in a nice suit. They tried to resuscitate him, but it was too late. Jerome Moody, age 31, drowned in the company of 100 lifeguards celebrating their success for the year.
在新奥尔良市一个公众泳池旁举行一个派对来庆祝他们第一次全年没有人在公众泳池溺死,在参加的两百人中半数是审定的救生员。派对将要结束,四位当值的救生员开始清洁泳池,就在水深之处发现一具尸体,穿着毕廷西装。他们试着要救活他,可惜为时已晚。耶罗米.麽地,年31岁,在一百名救生员庆祝当年的成功中溺死。

Every Sunday we gather to celebrate Jesus, let’s not allow anyone among us to perish without knowing the Lord.
每个礼拜天我们聚集庆祝耶稣,我们不要让我们当中任何一个人不认识主而灭亡。

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

July 26, 2010

Back On Track

As I am thinking about today’s devotion, I am also thinking about how quickly the summer break with our children and grandchildren is coming to a close. With this in mind I am making sure to keep our daily devotions simplistic. Hopefully they will still challenge you to engage to the fullest in seeking Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

My prayers for us all is to cherish our children and those around us we are leading, mentoring to speak deliberately in all things, to desire to Be the image God created us to be and speak with the truth in love to all around us ….all the time.

Now that would Be a beautiful creation indeed, wouldn’t it?
My love to each of you, in Christ,
Candace

27 So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. 28 God blessed them and said, "Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth."

We know from all our previous studies thus far that God had an image in His mind AS He was creating each element of existence: heavens, earth, gravity, air, water, plants, animals and us. We also know that He gave His approval to each entity as being what He imagined it would be.

So far in our studies we see that out of all creation so far only the animals and mankind were blessed; which reminded me of the scripture in Ephesians 1:3. So, Today I am leaving off with these final scriptures from Paul.

Think of these things today, because they are holy…lovely AND pure.
Be Holy because He is Holy and you were made to Be.

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer. 4 Before the creation of the world, he chose us through Christ to be holy and perfect in his presence. 5 Because of his love he had already decided to adopt us through Jesus Christ. He freely chose to do this 6 so that the kindness F3 he had given us in his dear Son would be praised and given glory. 7 Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness. 8 He poured out his kindness by giving us every kind of wisdom and insight 9 when he revealed the mystery of his plan to us. He had decided to do this through Christ. 10 He planned to bring all of history to its goal in Christ. Then Christ would be the head of everything in heaven and on earth. 11 God also decided ahead of time to choose us through Christ according to his plan, which makes everything work the way he intends. 12 He planned all of this so that we who had already focused our hope on Christ would praise him and give him glory. 13 You heard and believed the message of truth, the Good News that he has saved you. In him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit whom he promised. 14 This Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive our inheritance. We have this guarantee until we are set free to belong to him. God receives praise and glory for this.

July 25, 2010

Sending Out Many Thanks

I just wanted to say a quick thank you for all your prayers and encouragement this past week.  I have not been able to respond to each of you, as I did not have my computer or phone access at all times. Except for some occasional memory recall and a slight head and back ache at times I am doing great.  We still enjoyed our vacation receiving much rest and much needed family time.

With much love I pray that each of you are blessed because you have been such a blessing to me.  Life is tough but we have Him, life is not always what we expect but we have a reason for the hope in which we cling. Today, be sure to sit at His feet and listen to what He has to say to you.  Then tell me all about it =D, because I know it will be wonderful.

Kisses,
Candace

Ministry in Word

A Lost Person – Part 3
失丧的人 – 第三篇

Lk 19:1-10
路加19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' " But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
耶稣进了耶利哥,正经过的时候,有一个人名叫撒该,作税吏长,是个财主。他要看看耶稣是怎样的人;只因人多,他的身量又矮,所以不得看见,就跑到前头,爬上桑树,要看耶稣,因为耶稣必从那里经过。耶稣到了那里,抬头一看,对他说:撒该,快下来!今天我必住在你家里。他就急忙下来,欢欢喜喜的接待耶稣。众人看见,都私下议论说:他竟到罪人家里去住宿。撒该站着对主说:主阿,我把所有的一半给穷人;我若讹诈了谁,就还他四倍。耶稣说:今天救恩到了这家,因为他也是亚伯拉罕的子孙。人子来,为要寻找,拯救失丧的人。

Continued from Part 2
上接第二篇

2. Jesus initiated his contact with Zacchaeus
二、 耶稣主动与撒该接触

That’s why Jesus initiated His contact with Zacchaeus. He knew Zacchaeus was waiting for Him, waiting for His love, His acceptance, and His salvation.
那就是耶稣主动与撒该接触的理由。他知道撒该在等他,在等他的爱、他的接纳和他的拯救。

Zacchaeus knew that Jesus’ name meant “God saves”, so he placed his expectation on Jesus. He must have heard that Jesus called Matthew the tax collector to be His disciple, and restored the blind Bartimaeus’ sight. He must have heard that Jesus healed the sick and saved the demon possessed, so he believed that Jesus could help him with his problems.
撒该知道耶稣的名字意思是「神拯救」,所以他寄望耶稣身上。他一定曾经听说耶稣呼召税吏马太来作他的门徒,和挽回瞎子巴底买的视力。他一定曾经听说耶稣医治病人和拯救被鬼附的人,所以他相信耶稣可以帮助他解决问题。

But he must have also heard of the rich, young ruler who went to Jesus to seek the way to eternal life, but later departed sadly. He heard about Jesus’ statement that, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.” If Jesus would not accept someone with such excellent qualification, would he have a chance? Let’s consider these:

但他一定听过那位富有的年青官人,他去见耶稣来寻找永生之道,但後来忧愁地离去。他听过耶稣那样说,「骆驼要穿过针孔比富人要进天国容易。」如果耶稣不接受一个有如此优良资格的人,他有机会吗?让我们考虑这些:

-The only thing in common between the rich, young ruler and Zacchaeus was their wealth, and Jesus was not impressed by their wealth.
-If he pleaded with Jesus based on his need, there were many others having greater needs than he.
-富有的年青官人和撒该唯一相同的是他们的财富,而耶稣并不为他们的财富所动。
-如果他以他的需要向耶稣恳求的话,许多人有比他更大的需要。

But unlike the blind Bartimaeus who shouted to get Jesus’ attention, Zacchaeus was too embarrassed to do that. So he climbed up a tree to wait for Jesus.
不像瞎子巴底买大叫来取得耶稣的注意,撒该做不到这样的事,所以他爬上树上来等待耶稣。

However Jesus didn’t wait for Zacchaeus to seek Him. He didn’t wait for him to ask Him. He didn’t wait for him to plead with Him. He took the initiative to approach Zacchaeus.
但是耶稣并没有等待撒该来找他,他并没有等待撒该来问他,他并没有等待撒该来求他,他主动去接近撒该。

3. Jesus was not influenced by others’ opinion and misunderstanding
三、 耶稣不受别人的意见和误解所影响

Jesus was not concerned with others’ opinion and possible misunderstanding of His action, because He wanted to reach out and to save lost people like Zacchaeus.
耶稣并不担心别人的意见和对他行动可能的误解,因为他要寻找和拯救像撒该这样失丧的人。

-The Bible recorded 8 times the Jews criticized Jesus for eating with the tax collectors and sinners.
-Twice the Jews criticized Jesus for His association with tax collectors and prostitutes.
-They had given up on Zacchaeus, treating him as being lower than sinners and prostitutes.

-圣经记录了八次犹太人批评耶稣与税吏及罪人一同吃饭。-两次犹太人批评耶稣与税吏及娼妓交往。-他们已经放弃了撒该,待他比罪人及娼妓更不如。

But Jesus gently called him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
但耶稣温和地叫他:「撒该,快下来!今天我必住在你家里。」

-How sweet it was for Zacchaeus to hear his name spoken by Jesus. -Without accusation, only acceptance and belief that he had the capacity to live up to the meaning of his name, that was “righteous and kind”. -Jesus saw a precious lost soul behind Zacchaeus’ facade, one of the many lost souls for whom Jesus died on the cross. -Jesus didn’t hesitate to call Zacchaeus. He said, “Come down immediately” because it was urgent to save a lost soul.
-撒该听到耶稣呼叫他的名字是多甜美的呢。-没有指责,只是接纳和相信他有能力活出他名字的意义,那就是「公义和慈爱」。-在撒该的外貌背後耶稣看到一个宝贵的失丧灵魂,那是耶稣为其死在十字架上的众失丧灵魂之一。-耶稣并没有犹豫来叫撒该,他说:「快下来」因为拯救失丧灵魂是紧要的事。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

Thank you, Lord, for coming to dwell with us. May we open our heart to you and may we live up to your calling in our life.
感谢主来住在我们当中。愿我们向你打开我们的心,和愿我们在我们生命中活出你的呼召。

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

July 23, 2010

Sabbatical - Day 7

SANCTIFICATION

"This is the will of God, even your sanctification." 1 Thessalonians 4:3



The Death Side. In sanctification God has to deal with us on the death side as well as on the life side. Many of us spend so much time in the place of death that we get sepulchral. There is always a battle royal before sanctification, always something that tugs with resentment against the demands of Jesus Christ. Immediately the Spirit of God begins to show us what sanctification means, the struggle begins. "If any man come to Me and hate not . . his own life, he cannot be My disciple."

The Spirit of God in the process of sanctification will strip me until I am nothing but "myself," that is the place of death. Am I willing to be "myself," and nothing more - no friends, no father, no brother, no self-interest - simply ready for death? That is the condition of sanctification. No wonder Jesus said: "I came not to send peace, but a sword." This is where the battle comes, and where so many of us faint. We refuse to be identified with the death of Jesus on this point. "But it is so stern," we say; "He cannot wish me to do that." Our Lord is stern; and He does wish us to do that.
Am I willing to reduce myself simply to "me," determinedly to strip myself of all my friends think of me, of all I think of myself, and to hand that simple naked self over to God? Immediately I am, He will sanctify me wholly, and my life will be free from earnestness in connection with every thing but God.

When I pray - "Lord, show me what sanctification means for me," He will show me. It means being made one with Jesus. Sanctification is not something Jesus Christ puts into me: it is Himself in me. (1 Cor. 1:30.)



July 22, 2010

Sabbatical - Day 6

THE GATEWAY TO THE KINGDOM


"Blessed are the poor in spirit." Matthew 5:3

Beware of placing Our Lord as a Teacher first. If Jesus Christ is a Teacher only, then all He can do is to tantalize me by erecting a standard I can not attain. What is the use of presenting me with an ideal I cannot possibly come near? I am happier without knowing it. What is the good of telling me to be what I never can be - to be pure in heart, to do more than my duty, to be perfectly devoted to God? I must know Jesus Christ as Saviour before His teaching has any meaning for me other than that of an ideal which leads to despair. But when I am born again of the Spirit of God, I know that Jesus Christ did not come to teach only: He came to make me what He teaches I should be. The Redemption means that Jesus Christ can put into any man the disposition that ruled His own life, and all the standards God gives are based on that disposition.

The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount produces despair in the natural man - the very thing Jesus means it to do. As long as we have a self-righteous, conceited notion that we can carry out Our Lord's teaching, God will allow us to go on until we break our ignorance over some obstacle, then we are willing to come to Him as paupers and receive from Him. "Blessed are the paupers in spirit," that is the first principle in the Kingdom of God. The bedrock in Jesus Christ's kingdom is poverty, not possession; not decisions for Jesus Christ, but a sense of absolute futility - I cannot begin to do it. Then Jesus says - Blessed are you. That is the entrance, and it does take us a long while to believe we are poor! The knowledge of our own poverty brings us to the moral frontier where Jesus Christ works.



July 21, 2010

Sabbatical - Day 5

DEPENDENT ON GOD'S PRESENCE


"They that wait upon the Lord . . . shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

There is no thrill in walking; it is the test of all the stable qualities. To "walk and not faint" is the highest reach possible for strength. The word "walk" is used in the Bible to express the character - "John looking on Jesus as He walked, said, Behold the Lamb of God!" There is never any thing abstract in the Bible, it is always vivid and real. God does not say - Be spiritual, but - "Walk before Me."

When we are in an unhealthy state physically or emotionally, we always want thrills. In the physical domain this will lead to counterfeiting the Holy Ghost; in the emotional life it leads to inordinate affection and the destruction of morality; and in the spiritual domain if we insist on getting thrills, on mounting up with wings, it will end in the destruction of spirituality.

The reality of God's presence is not dependent on any place, but only dependent upon the determination to set the Lord always before us. Our problems come when we refuse to bank on the reality of His presence. The experience the Psalmist speaks of - "Therefore will we not fear, though . . ." will be ours when once we are based on Reality, not the consciousness of God's presence but the reality of it - Why, He has been here all the time!

At critical moments it is necessary to ask guidance, but it ought to be unnecessary to be saying always - "O Lord, direct me here, and there." Of course He will! If our common-sense decisions are not His order, He will press through them and check; then we must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence.



July 20, 2010

Sabbatical - Day 4

MASTERY OVER THE BELIEVER

"Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am." John 13:13


Our Lord never insists on having authority; He never says - Thou shalt. He leaves us perfectly free - so free that we can spit in His face, as men did; so free that we can put Him to death, as men did; and He will never say a word. But when His life has been created in me by His Redemption I instantly recognize His right to absolute authority over me. It is a moral domination - "Thou art worthy . . ." It is only the unworthy in me that refuses to bow down to the worthy. If when I meet a man who is more holy than myself, I do not recognize his worthiness and obey what comes through him, it is a revelation of the unworthy in me. God educates us by means of people who are a little better than we are, not intellectually but "holily," until we get under the domination of the Lord Himself, and then the whole attitude of the life is one of obedience to Him.

If Our Lord insisted upon obedience He would become a taskmaster, and He would cease to have any authority. He never insists on obedience, but when we do see Him we obey Him instantly, He is easily Lord, and we live in adoration of Him from morning till night. The revelation of my growth in grace is the way in which I look upon obedience. We have to rescue the word "obedience" from the mire. Obedience is only possible between equals; it is the relationship between father and son, not between master and servant. "I and My Father are one." "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered." The Son's obedience was as Redeemer, because He was Son, not in order to be Son



July 19, 2010

Sabbatical - Day 3

THE MYSTERY OF BELIEVING

"And he said, Who art Thou, Lord?" Acts 9:5



By the miracle of Redemption Saul of Tarsus was turned in one second from a strong-willed, intense Pharisee into a humble, devoted slave of the Lord Jesus.

There is nothing miraculous about the things we can explain. We command what we are able to explain, consequently it is natural to seek to explain. It is not natural to obey; nor is it necessarily sinful to disobey. There is no moral virtue in obedience unless there is a recognition of a higher authority in the one who dictates. It is possibly an emancipation to the other person if he does not obey. If one man says to another - 'You must,' and - 'You shall,' he breaks the human spirit and unfits it for God. A man is a slave for obeying unless behind his obedience there is a recognition of a holy God. Many a soul begins to come to God when he flings off being religious, because there is only one Master of the human heart, and that is not religion but Jesus Christ. But woe be to me if when I see Him I say - I will not. He will never insist that I do, but I have begun to sign the death warrant of the Son of God in my soul. When I stand face to face with Jesus Christ and say - I will not, He will never insist; but I am backing away from the recreating power of His Redemption. It is a matter of indifference to God's grace how abominable I am if I come to the light; but woe be to me if I refuse the light (see John 3:19-21).

July 18, 2010

Sabbatical - Day 2

THE MIRACLE OF BELIEF


"My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words." 1 Corinthians 2:1-5



Paul was a scholar and an orator of the first rank; he is not speaking out of abject humility; but saying that he would veil the power of God if, when he preached the gospel, he impressed people with his "excellency of speech." Belief in Jesus is a miracle produced only by the efficacy of Redemption, not by impressiveness of speech, not by wooing and winning, but by the sheer unaided power of God. The creative power of the Redemption comes through the preaching of the Gospel, but never because of the personality of the preacher. The real fasting of the preacher is not from food, but rather from eloquence, from impressiveness and exquisite diction, from everything that might hinder the gospel of God being presented. The preacher is there as the representative of God - "as though God did beseech you by us." He is there to present the Gospel of God. If it is only because of my preaching that people desire to be better, they will never get anywhere near Jesus Christ. Anything that flatters me in my preaching of the Gospel will end in making me a traitor to Jesus; I prevent the creative power of His Redemption from doing its work.

"I, if I be lifted up . . . , will draw all men unto Me."


July 17, 2010

Sabbatical

Sabbatical:  a period away from your normal routine - a time to immerse yourself in a different environment, a chance to see your life from a different point of view.

This is what I am doing for one week.  I am immersing my self into my family 24/7 for 7 days.  I am going to take every moment to look at life from their precious eyes and appreciate what God has blessed me with.  However, know that I will be missing each of you and praying for you.  Also, I went ahead and posted this weeks devotions to be sent out each morning.  We will take a break from Genesis and lap up the wise views from Oswald Chambers  - from My Utmost For His Highest.

Please pray that as I am out I hear God more clearly, rest in him deeply and return refreshed, invigorated with much to share about our Lord God Almighty.
Till then, may each of you feel His sun upon your face and know you are cherished.
Candace

THE NOTION OF DIVINE CONTROL

"How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" Matthew 7:11

Jesus is laying down rules of conduct for those who have His Spirit. By the simple argument of these verses He urges us to keep our minds filled with the notion of God's control behind everything, which means that the disciple must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek.

Notion your mind with the idea that God is there. If once the mind is notioned along that line, then when you are in difficulties it is as easy as breathing to remember - Why, my Father knows all about it! It is not an effort, it comes naturally when perplexities press. Before, you used to go to this person and that, but now the notion of the Divine control is forming so powerfully in you that you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those who have His Spirit, and it works on this principle - God is my Father, He loves me, I shall never think of anything He will forget, why should I worry?

There are times, says Jesus, when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but trust Him. God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural Father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the notion of the mind of God behind all things strong and growing. Nothing happens in any particular unless God's will is behind it, therefore you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but an attitude of mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. "Ask, and it shall be given you."



July 16, 2010

Image Alone Never Becomes Likeness

Genesis 1:26 (NAS)
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

What God Made when He made man did not stop with the image. An image of something is a mere semblance it is empty except on the surface. This is what we are in our soul without the holy spirit. This is where we were when we departed from His presence. But thank God they did not stop there. He made us in their image but according to their His likeness which goes deeper than the surface it has to do with the being the same “kind”.

Let me explain it with the Law and Christ. We know that the Law is the “how to act” however on our own we cannot accomplish it for ever. Christ came to “fulfill” the law. Christ came so that the Image could be liberated by the Holy Spirit. Christ was the word of God AND the Spirit of God. He was the culmination of the two here among us. When He died He was released from the form that He took on. He was able to return to His home with our Father; at which point we were send our Helper – the Holy Spirit.

The final point that I want to clarify today is that God made us in their image according to their likeness to rule over the fish, birds, cattle and every “creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” No where did God tell us to “rule or Lord” over our fellow man….NO WHERE!

So today I am leaving us with the opening chapter of my favorite book of the bible Hebrews, remembering that God in all ways is faithful and true. I pray that you hear what the power of His word is relating and believe…then follow. His Ways are so good, and you will find rest for your soul (then your image will have his characteristics =D)

With Love,
Candace

Hebrews Chapter 1 (GWT)


In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets. In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. God made his Son responsible for everything. His Son is the one through whom God made the universe. His Son is the reflection of God’s glory and the “exact likeness” of God’s being. He holds everything together through his powerful words. After he had cleansed people from their sins, he received the highest position, the one next to the Father in heaven.


The Son has become greater than the angels since he had been given a name that is superior to theirs. God never said to any of his angels, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.” And God never said to any of his angels. “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.” When God was about to send his firstborn Son into the world, he said, “All of God’s angels must worship him.” God said about the angels, “He makes his messengers winds. He makes his servants flames of fire.” But God said about his Son, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter in your kingdom is a scepter for justice. You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong. That is why God, your God, anointed you, rather than your companions, with the oil of joy.”


God also said, “Lord, in the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth, with your own hands you made the heavens. They will come to an end, but you will live forever. They will all wear out like clothes. They will be taken off like a coat. You will change them like clothes. But you remain the same and your life will never end. But God never said to any of the angels. “Sit in the highest position in heaven until I make your enemies your footstool.”


What are all the angels? They are spirits sent to serve those who are going to receive salvation.
As I am typing this I realized something. Lucifer was an angel. He fell in love with His image. He did not desire to serve – he desires to be what He can never be. So He has come to an end, Christ made him his footstool. Remember all those angels denied their position….they are rebels misaligned with the cause….the cause is LOVE.

Here is a poem if you would like to think a bit more deeply on all this.

Imagine in His Image

Oh Father, as my body lies before you humbly, my spirit stands tall,
Facing your glory, reaching for your outstretched arms,
My soul is now free, no longer in bondage to my flesh,
I am but the wind, spreading your compassion and tenderness.
The gentle breeze that tousles the hair and kisses the cheek,
Spreading new breath of life, wooing us into your presence to partake of your grace,
No longer do we need this world... this world is in need of us.
Pour out your essence as a gentle rain, wash away the dirt of our lives.
Free our souls so that we may fly home on your wings,
Though our paths may be dark we need only your light,
We need not know the road for you are our path.
Release my mind, oh my flesh, your thoughts are in vain.
My father created you and needs this space,
Be the vessel you were created to be, holy, lovely and pure,
Capture the light and radiate His glory,
My face will shine, my breath will teach,
And together we will come home.
To our father be the glory and us the image... as He created us to be.

By Candace Huffmaster © final draft 2008

July 15, 2010

God Notices....and He Let's Us Know.

Good Morning My Friends:


Today we are looking at verses 24 and 25 of Genesis 1. They are really clear and straight forward. God Let what He had desired be And IT Was SO - just as He had done with the formation of what came before this. He then noticed all this; He looked upon it. I imagine Him with such a joyous heart filled smile across His face. We do not know if it was in His heart He spoke or if it was audible. But we do know that He took notice and I am sure pause to express that it was all good.

24Then God said, “Let the earth produce every type of living creature: every type of domestic animal, crawling animal, and wild animal.” And so it was. 25God made every type of wild animal, every type of domestic animal, and every type of creature that crawls on the ground. God saw that they were good.

Preparing to move forward with the creation of Man tomorrow, I wanted to set the stage with Roman 1 and a devotion from Oswald Chambers. I pray that your hearts be enlightened today as you look around you at all live and remember that “In the beginning, God said that it was Good and He was pleased.” Show Mercy because you have been given much…..before you ever loved Him…He loved you and said you were a good thing.

With a Holy Kiss – Embrace this Day - As Mason always says yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift that is why it is called “The Present”. It is not his original statement, however it is a fabulous one and I thank him (and Him) always for sharing with me.

Candace


Romans 1: From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and appointed to spread the Good News of God. 2 (God had already promised this Good News through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 3 This Good News is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. F1 In his human nature he was a descendant of David. 4 In his spiritual, holy nature he was declared the Son of God. This was shown in a powerful way when he came back to life. 5 Through him we have received God’s kindness F2 and the privilege of being apostles who bring people from every nation to the obedience that is associated with faith. This is for the honor of his name. 6 You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.)


7 To everyone in Rome whom God loves and has called to be his holy people. Good will F3 and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours! First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for every one of you because the news of your faith is spreading throughout the whole world. 9 I serve God by spreading the Good News about his Son. God is my witness that I always mention you 10 every time I pray. I ask that somehow God will now at last make it possible for me to visit you. 11 I long to see you to share a spiritual blessing with you so that you will be strengthened. 12 What I mean is that we may be encouraged by each other’s faith.


13 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to visit you. However, until now I have been kept from doing so. What I want is to enjoy some of the results of working among you as I have also enjoyed the results of working among the rest of the nations. 14 I have an obligation to those who are civilized and those who aren’t, to those who are wise and those who aren’t. 15 That’s why I’m eager to tell you who live in Rome the Good News also.


16 I’m not ashamed of the Good News. It is God’s power to save everyone who believes, Jews first and Greeks as well. 17 God’s approval is revealed in this Good News. This approval begins and ends with faith as Scripture says, “The person who has God’s approval will live by faith.”

By Oswald Chamber – My Utmost For His Highest

am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians . . . —Romans 1:14

Paul was overwhelmed with the sense of his indebtedness to Jesus Christ, and he spent his life to express it. The greatest inspiration in Paul’s life was his view of Jesus Christ as his spiritual creditor. Do I feel that same sense of indebtedness to Christ regarding every unsaved soul? As a saint, my life’s spiritual honor and duty is to fulfill my debt to Christ in relation to these lost souls. Every tiny bit of my life that has value I owe to the redemption of Jesus Christ. Am I doing anything to enable Him to bring His redemption into evident reality in the lives of others? I will only be able to do this as the Spirit of God works into me this sense of indebtedness.

I am not a superior person among other people— I am a bondservant of the Lord Jesus. Paul said, “. . . you are not your own . . . you were bought at a price . . .” ( 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ). Paul sold himself to Jesus Christ and he said, in effect, “I am a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the gospel of Jesus; I am free only that I may be an absolute bondservant of His.” That is the characteristic of a Christian’s life once this level of spiritual honor and duty becomes real. Quit praying about yourself and spend your life for the sake of others as the bondservant of Jesus. That is the true meaning of being broken bread and poured-out wine in real life.

July 14, 2010

Ministry in Word

A Lost Person – Part 2
失丧的人 – 第二篇

Lk 19:1-10
路加19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' " But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

耶稣进了耶利哥,正经过的时候,有一个人名叫撒该,作税吏长,是个财主。他要看看耶稣是怎样的人;只因人多,他的身量又矮,所以不得看见,就跑到前头,爬上桑树,要看耶稣,因为耶稣必从那里经过。耶稣到了那里,抬头一看,对他说:撒该,快下来!今天我必住在你家里。他就急忙下来,欢欢喜喜的接待耶稣。众人看见,都私下议论说:他竟到罪人家里去住宿。撒该站着对主说:主阿,我把所有的一半给穷人;我若讹诈了谁,就还他四倍。耶稣说:今天救恩到了这家,因为他也是亚伯拉罕的子孙。人子来,为要寻找,拯救失丧的人。


1. Jesus knew Zacchaeus’ spiritual journey
一、 耶稣知道撒该的心历路程

Jesus came to seek and save Zacchaeus who was lost. First He must have known Zacchaeus’ situation. What was Zacchaeus’ situation? Zacchaeus had 2 problems: a problem with his life and a problem with his image.

耶稣来寻找拯救失丧的撒该。他一定已经知道撒该的情况。撒该的情况如何呢?撒该有两个问题:一个关乎他生命的问题和一个关乎他形象的问题。

a. Life
甲、 生命

First let’s look at his problem with his life. He was a chief tax collector and a wealthy man. He had money and status, but he was not happy. He was a chief tax collector. In the eye of the Roman government, he was simply a tool to take advantage of the Jews; and to the Jews, he was a traitor who helped their foreign conqueror the Roman Empire oppress them, and he was also a sinner who profited from high tax levied on his fellow countrymen. To the Jews he was also unclean due to his contact with the gentiles.

首先让我们看看他关乎他生命的问题。他是一个税吏长和一个财主,他有钱和地位,但他并不快乐。他是一个税吏长,在罗马政府眼中他只不过是向犹太人取利的工具罢了;而对犹太人来说,他是一个卖国贼,他帮他们的异邦征服者罗马帝国来压榨他们,他也是一个罪人因他向他的同胞征收重税而从中弁利。对犹太人来说他也是不洁因为他与外邦人接触。

The Jews considered all tax collectors their public enemies. Therefore Zacchaeus, being a chief tax collector, was hated by his people.

犹太人认为所有的税吏都是他们的公敌,所以作为税吏长撒该就受到他的同胞所痛恨。

Zacchaeus lived a life that was rich in material, but poor in spirit. Nowadays some people have great power for material gains, but they cannot enjoy life, living in discontentment and disappointment.

撒该的生活有丰富的物质,但是精神贫乏。现今有一些人很有获财的能力,但却不能享受生命,活在不满足和失望之中。

Have you ever seen the bumper stickers that say “I’d rather be fishing”, “I’d rather be skiing”, etc. That means they are not content with what they are doing, yet they are stuck in it. Zacchaeus loved his job for all its money, but hated it because of the stigma associated with it.

你曾否看过这样的保险杠贴纸吗?写着「我宁可去钓鱼」或者「我宁可去滑雪」之类。这就表示他们并不满意他们的现状,但又无法改变它。撒该因着饯的缘固喜爱他的工作,但却因为它所带的臭名而讨厌它。

b. Image
乙、 形象

Zacchaeus also had a problem with his image. He might have wished his parents didn’t name him Zacchaeus, because this Hebrew name means “righteous” or “charitable”. Are you kidding? A righteous and charitable chief tax collector? No way!

撒该也有一个形象的问题。也许他有想过如果他父母没有给他取名撒该就好了,因为这犹太名字的意思是「公义的」或「慈善的」。开玩笑,一个公义的和慈善的税吏长?不可能的!

Besides his name being taken as a joke, Zacchaeus might not like his stature, because he was short. Sometimes we are conscious of our physical characteristics. Some think they are too tall while others think they are too short. I read that the famous missionary to China, Miss Lottie Moon, refused to be photographed standing up because she was short, only 4 feet 3 inches tall. Zacchaeus might have sought career excellence and materialistic gain to make up for his shortness, but Jesus knew that he didn’t have
contentment from them.

除了他的名字成为笑柄以外,撒该可能不喜欢他的身材,因为他很矮小。我们有时为我们身体持徵感到不自在,有人认为他们太高,又有人认为他们太矮。我曾读到关于那有名的在华传教士,慕拉第女仕,她拒绝站立拍照因为她身材短小,只有四英尺三英寸高。为了弥补他身材不高撒该可能争取事业上的优越和物质上的收获,但耶稣知道他并没有因此得满足。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we place our hope and expectation on Jesus and may we find contentment in our Lord.
愿我们将我们的盼望与期待放在耶稣身上,和愿我们在我们的主里找到满足。

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

July 13, 2010

The Best Fishing Spot

If we look back at yesterdays verses in Genesis we know that God even created the best fishing holes.  Well maybe that wasn't his defining purpose, however we can utilize it for an analogy =D.

If you are an avid fisherman, when you are trying to catch a certain "kind" of fish you look for where they are drawn to by their nature.  You know what type of lure, bait or trap to utilize and they you wait patiently after you have "set" the trap.  This is because that is how God ordained things to be.  He created the origin of nature, distinction of characteristics of species and habitats in which they would thrive.

We can use our minds to understand all these complex thoughts, but can you imagine being the Deity that created them?  Can you imagine what God imagined (and it was so)?  The book of Job enlightens us on God's answer to the questions; Chapter 38:

Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm.  Who is this that belittles my advice with words that do not show any knowledge about it.  Brace yourself like a man!  I will ask you and you will teach me.
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?  Tell me if you have such insight.  Who determined it's dimensions?  Certainly, you know!  Who stretched a measuring line over it?  On what were it's footing's sunk?  Who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?  "Who shut the sea behind gates when it burst through and came out of the womb, when I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it up in dark clouds, what I set a limit for it and put up bars and gates, when I said, " You may come this far but no farther.  Here your proud waves will stop?  "Have you ever given order to the morning or assigned a place for the dawn so that it could grab the earth by its edges and shake wicked people out of it?  The earth changes like clay stamped by a seal, and parts of it stand out like fold in clothing.  Wicked people are deprived of their light and an arm raised in victory is broken.  have you gone to the springs in the sea or walked through the valleys of the oceans depths?  Have the gateways to death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gateways to total darkness?  Have you even considered how wide the earth is?  Tell me, if you know all of this!

"What is the way to the place where light lives?  Where is the home of darkness so that you may lead it to its territory, so that you may know the path to its home?  You must know because you were born then and have lived such a long time!  Have you been to the warehouses where snow is stored or seen the warehouses for hail that I have stored up for the time of trouble, and the day of battle and war?  Which is the way to the place where light is scattered and the east wind is spread across the earth?  "Who made a channel for the flooding rains and a path for the thunderstorms to bring rain on a land where no one lives, on a desert where there are no humans, to saturate the desolate wasteland in order to make it sprout with grass?  Does the rain have a father?  Who gave birth to the dewdrops?  From whose womb came the ice, and who has given birth to the frost in the air?  The water hardens like a stone, and the surface of the ocean freezes over.  "Can you connect the chains of the constellation Pleiades or untie the ropes of Orion?  Can you bring out the constellations at the right time or guide Ursa Major with its cubs?  Do you know the laws of the sky or make them rule the earth?  Can you call to the clouds and have a flood of water cover  you?  Can you send lightening flashes so that they may go and say to you, Here we are?  Who put wisdom in the heart or gave understanding to the mind?  Who is wise enough to count the clouds or pour out the water jars of heaven when the dirt hardens into clumps and the soil clings together? 

We will start back tomorrow with the rest of God's answer to our questions..as for today. Sit with him to listen and learn from the Master of spinning thoughts, story lines and purposes.  Glean from His knowledge, Listen to His plans and be more than wooed.....Be inspired...Be Propelled....Live the Zoe Life He created.
Starting this moment, it a choice, an option.  It is not forced because He loves you deeply, honestly, passionately but mostly freely with a love that is intended to lift us up, feel soft and beautiful, and yet boldly fierce to protect you.  Please See that today.
With the Love of our Christ,
Candace

July 12, 2010

The Original "Big Fish" Tale

It is with  great joy that I open this to you today!  Although I am sorry for not having the ability to stay on course with our study of Genesis, today I truly believe I can tout that the computer is fixed!!!   What a roller coaster.  So with gusto let's dig back in . 

Genesis 1:21 (NAS)
And God created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:22 (NAS)
And God blessed them saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."

Genesis 1:23 (NAS)
And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

To understand what God was "preparing in advance" or setting in motion on this fifth day He created to support all times, we have to take a microscope to this day.  For instance what is the reality of these great "sea monsters".  To know that we would have to know the Hebrew word in which we derive it from.  Tanniyn or Tanniym is a huge fish, a marine or land monster; a dragon, a sea serpent; a water animal, a shark or a crocodile as it pertains to these scriptures.  There are other definitions but today we are only looking at these.  The others are more metaphoric in nature.  Let's look at how God has utilized those through out His creations history.

Job is considered to be among the first books ever to be written.  He made the first reference to them in a conversation he was having with God when he said, " Am I the sea or a sea monster that you have set a guard over me?"

Isaiah praised God saying "O Lord, you are my God.  I will highly honor you; I will praise your name.  You have done miraculous things.  You have been completely reliable in carrying out your plans from long ago.  He then speaks about the future for God's people saying, "On this mountain the Lord of Armies will prepare for all people a feast with the best foods, a banquet with aged wines, with the best foods and the finest wines.  On this mountain he will remove the veil of grief covering all people and the mask covering all nations.  he will swallow up death forever.  The Almighty Lord will wipe away tears from every face, and he will remove the disgrace of his people from the whole earth.  The Lord has spoken.  On that day, his people, will say "This is our God; we have waited for him, and now he will save us. - Let us rejoice and  be glad because he will save us."  A bit further down He is talking about "that day" when we are saved.  Listen to what he shares. " on that day the Lord will use his fierce and powerful sword to punish Leviathan - that slippery snake, Leviathan, that twisting snake.  He will kill that monster which lives in the sea.  On that day sing about a delightful vineyard.  I, the Lord, will watch over it.  I water it continually.  I watch over it day and night so that no one will harm it.  I am no longer angry.  If only thorn's and briar's would confront me! I would fight them in battle and set all of them on fire.  or else let them come to me for protection.  Let them make peace with me.  Yes, let them make peace with me.

Now let's move on to Jeremiah, his last prophecy was about how King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had devoured the Israelites.  He had thrown them into confusion, turned them into empty jars, swallowed them like a monster filling his belly with their delicacies; then he spit them out.  They were begging for violence to be done to Babylon, for its people to be held responsible for their deaths.  Further down God told his people to leave - to run for their lives.  Not from the evil of the Babylonians but from the burning anger of the Lord.  He did not want them to be around when His vengeance was brought to fruition.  This is exactly what He was speaking of through Isaiah as He said "if only they would confront me I would fight them in battle and set all of them on fires"...or else let them come to me for protections - Let them make peace with me.

The one reference I would have thought would be obvious was Jonah and the "whale".  However, there seems to be some ambiguity about the correct translation of this "fish - really big fish".  I will look those up and get back to you tomorrow on that one. 

As for today - we must realize that God's plans are not only perfect they are perfectly ordered.  We simply have free will as to "if we will face Him".  The ridiculous part is when we choose to not face Him, we must turn our back on Him.  That is not a pretty sight when I picture it.  Think about how you feel when some one repeatedly ignores your efforts to have relationship with them.  We might get hurt for awhile, but then we get heated about it.  This is because we are made in the Image of God.....and that's what He does. 

Just remember in your anger - Do not sin!  Vengeance is Mine says the Lord.
With the Love of Christ,
Candace

July 10, 2010

Ministry in Word

A Lost Person
失丧的人

Lk 19:1-10
路加19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' " But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house,because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
耶稣进了耶利哥,正经过的时候,有一个人名叫撒该,作税吏长,是个财主。他要看看耶稣是怎样的人;只因人多,他的身量又矮,所以不得看见,就跑到前头,爬上桑树,要看耶稣,因为耶稣必从那里经过。耶稣到了那里,抬头一看,对他说:撒该,快下来!今天我必住在你家里。他就急忙下来,欢欢喜喜的接待耶稣。众人看见,都私下议论说:他竟到罪人家里去住宿。撒该站着对主说:主阿,我把所有的一半给穷人;我若讹诈了谁,就还他四倍。耶稣说:今天救恩到了这家,因为他也是亚伯拉罕的子孙。人子来,为要寻找,拯救失丧的人。

Introduction
前言

We all know the Bible story of Zacchaeus. It is recorded in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 19, verses 1 to 10.
我们都知道撒该的圣经故事,它记录在路加福音第19章第一至十节。

In the last verse of the passage we see that Jesus’ goal was evangelism- For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. This is Jesus’ mission when he came into our world.
从这段经文的最後一节-人子来,为要寻找,拯救失丧的人- 我们看到耶稣的目的就是传福音。

Who are the lost? As it is illustrated by the parable of the lost sheep, they are those who have wandered away from the Shepherd. That is, 1. Those who don’t know our Lord; 2. Those whose life does not connect with our Lord.
那麽失丧的人是谁呢?从迷失的羊的比喻我们清楚看到他们就是走离了大牧者的人。那就是,一、那些不认识我们的主的人;二、那些生命不与我们的主连接的人。

Some lost people do not know they are lost; some know but have no clue on how to find their way home. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (Jn 14:6) Anyone who has not found Jesus has not found their way home.
有一些失丧的人不知道他们失丧,有一些知道但完全不知道如何归家。耶稣说「我就是道路、真理、生命;若不藉着我,没有人能到父那里去。」〔约14:6〕任何人若没有找到耶稣就仍未找到归家的途径。

In 1984 my employer moved our family from Canada to Singapore for 2 years. When our son Justin was 2 years old, my parents visited us. One day Tehwan took my parents and Justin sight seeing and they came to pick me up after work. When I came down to meet them they all looked panicky, because our son Justin was nowhere to be found. We spread out to look for him, searching the many shops there. For a 2-year old these shops must have been like a maze. If we couldn’t find him, he wouldn’t be able to find us. Finally we found him in a toy store, obviously attracted by the toys. The store keepers said Justin was not anxious at all. He didn’t behave like a boy who was lost.
1984年我的雇主从加拿大把我们一家搬到新加坡去住两年。当我们儿子以德两岁的时候我的父母来看我们。一天德菀带着以德和我父母观光去,然後在我下班的时间来接我。当我下去见他们的时候大家看来都很紧张,原来因为到处都找不到我们的儿子以德。我们分头去找他,搜索那里的商店。对一个两岁的小孩这些商店就像迷宫一般。如果我们找不到他,他一定无法找到我们。我们终于在一家玩具店找到他,很明显他是被玩具吸引进去。那些店员说以德一点都不惊慌,他的举动完全不像一个迷失的小孩。

Like my son Justin, before we were saved we also didn’t know we were lost, that is why Jesus had to come into this world to find us and to save us.
就如我儿子以德,我们得救以前也不知道我们是失丧的,那就是为什麽耶稣须要进入这世界来寻找和拯救我们。

In today’s story it looks like Zacchaeus was looking for Jesus, but in fact it was Jesus who looked for Zacchaeus. By man’s effort alone a man cannot find God. It is because our God never stops seeking us, so we have the opportunity to be saved. Let us learn from Jesus’ example how to reach people for Jesus.
在今天的故事中看来是撒该在找耶稣,事实上是耶稣找撒该。单凭人的力量人不能找到神,是因为神从来没有不在寻找我们,我们才有得救的机会。让我们从耶稣的模范中学习如何为耶稣得着人。



May we be found and be saved. May we be found in the sanctuary of the Lord praising
Him for His grace.
愿神找到我们让我们得救。愿神在耶和华的殿中找到我们为他的恩惠在赞美他。

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

July 8, 2010

Wait For It.....Wait For It....

The Freedom of Wait
Oil Painting by Candace Huffmaster

Psalms 56:5
"All day long they twist my words and trouble my affairs; all their thoughts are against me for evil and my hurt."

When I think of the Psalms and how "human" they are, I cannot help but see my own face reflecting back at me in the many moments of mere humanity.  How can we do anything but fall on our knees and thank God that we are blessed to be able to live beyond the Psalms.  How fortunate are we to be able to lay the weight of our "humanness" at the feet of the cross, to wait expectantly for the Holy Spirit that has settled down right within us to comfort, teach, lead, empower and show us the way out.  There are days when I see the world from such a selfish view of how everyone is picking on me, but then I hear the Holy Spirit whisper "but you know the truth and the truth has set you free- choose life and love them ....for ME."  Selah (pause and calmly think of that)

While my computer has been down, I have had the time to read over some older notes.  Pray over where God has something to say and read some of the books that I have not had the opportunity to immerse myself in. 

Needless to say, I have had some very vulnerable points during the past month and up to this time.  Even though I was aware of the spiritual battle in and around me, there have been confusing crossroads at many points.  This is when I have to stop, pull close to God and ask for the ancient path so that I may truly hear and see the way that gives rest to my soul.

One of the things I know, is that the spirit of Jezebel is alive and devouring many individuals who are unaware. We will get to this tomorrow.  What I want to focus on today is the "Patience of Wait" and the "Freedom of Wait".  Just as God's word is active / alive, so are we even as we wait on Him.  Waiting is a growth process....when we allow it to be completed in us.  I learned something about this as I was waiting on my computer to be restored.  Maybe someday I will put this whole learning experience to paper.  But for now I wanted to bring up this older lesson:

At what point do we take action?
 - reflect on the poem Proper Perspective by the Waters Edge in the archives.

Do we wait to find out if God has anointed us? 

Do we wait on the Lord or just strike out on our way without consulting Him…assuming?


In John 8:3-11 the scripture is relaying the story of people who knew God’s word. They were correct in what they said. Look at the way Jesus handled this situation. The men came in loaded with scripture. THEN they asked Jesus ‘what do you say”. No doubt, Christ could see the position of their heart. They were throwing the words at him…..desiring to trap Him. They had already trapped the woman; they were self righteous, leaning on their own understanding.

How many times do we logically recant facts, fit them to with memories to back up our emotions and then come into the presence of an individual poised upright and throw?

Look at the position that Jesus took. He ducked! He restrained emotions. He let it fly right over him.

He did not cower in defeat, he gave moment to the situation. He gave them time to do the same thing. They used their moments to persist in throwing vocabulary at the situation.

Then Jesus stood up, he was not controlled by their words or gestures. He was not provoked to retaliate. He simply spoke the truth.

Let’s compare Jesus’ choice of truth’s to the leaders.

They both were stating true facts.

“Teacher this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the law of Moses it states to stone such women. “

“He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

They were stating Moses scripture, from God

Leviticus 20:10 If there is a man who commits adultery with another man's wife, one who commits adultery with his friend's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Deuteronomy 22:22 If a man is found lying with a married woman, then both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel.

Jesus was did not deny what they said he confirmed his purpose by God (have someone find these verses Matthew 5:17, John 15:25, Galatians 6:2)

Matthew 7:12 So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is (sums up) the Law and the Prophets.

• 2 Samuel 12:5 Then David's anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this (A)deserves to die.

• 6"He must make restitution for the lamb (B)fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion."

• 7Nathan then said to David, "(C)You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, '(D)It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul.



What is the position of your "self" taking?  Remember when God was speaking to Cain he asked him "why is your countenance down"   What is your stance on waiting for God - Do you fell empowered at the thought of this? Or do you feel weak?  Reflect on what God said in Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 22:30 (the message)

I looked for someone to stand up for me against all this, to repair the defenses of the city, to take a stand for me and stand in the gap to protect this land so that I would not have to destroy it. I couldn’t find anyone. Not one. So I’ll empty out my wrath on them, burn them to a crisp with my hot anger, serve them with the consequences of all they’ve done. Decree of God “the Master”.

Let us be the one that when He calls, He will find us speaking up and waiting for Him at our watchpost!

With the incredible, unstoppable and merciful love of our Christ,
Candace

July 6, 2010

"Above All Else"

Today all we are going to look at is the Hebrew definitions of our translated words within Genesis 1:20. We will need to understand these as we move forward with our study. I utilize Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance for the Hebrew definitions.

Genesis 1:20 (NAS)



Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens."

1. Waters is Mahyim same as waters the first of Genesis - water, waters, water of the feet, urine. Of Danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment.

2. teem is Sharats – meaning (Qal) to teem, swarm, multiply. To swarm.

3. Swarms is a derivative of sharats – it is Sherets meaning teeming or swarming things, creepers, swarmers - of insects, animals, small reptiles, quadrupeds.

4. Living is Chay meaning living, alive (green/ of vegetation, flowing fresh / of water, lively, active (of man) reviving (of springtime) it means relatives. Life (abstract emphatic sustenance, maintenance. Living thing, animal: life, appetite, revival, renewal. It means community.

5. Creatures is Nephesh meaning soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion. That which breathes – the breathing substance or being. The inner being of man or the soul. The living being as in the life in the blood. The activity of the mind – seat of emotions, passions and activity of the will, activity of the character are all seated here. Dubious.

6. birds is owph meaning flying creatures, fowl, winged insects, birds

7. Fly is uwph meaning to fly, hover, fly about or fly away. It also means to cause to fly or light upon and it can mean to fly to and fro. It has a (Qal) meaning: to cover, be dark, gloom.

8. Above is al this preposition has quiet an amazing depth for such a small word: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against. It means because of, for the sake of, with, for, in spit of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of. It show above, beyond and over in excess (example in abundance to the full till it overflows). It shows pre-eminence of elevation (example not to lean on our own understanding – his thoughts are “higher than our thoughts). It also show multiplicity of addition – in addition to, together with, upon, unto (examples of where God adds to our ordinary to complete us) which is a deeper meaning of being over as in an extension or suspension. It means by adjoining, around next to in proximity (of contiguity) It also is a verb of motion: down upon, on, from, up to, towards, against. (examples God is for us not against us. Who ever is not against God is for Him). It is also a conjunction (conjunction junction what’s your function) to (as a dative?) because, notwithstanding and although.

9. Earth is same as earlier verses (erets) look back for definition.
10. open is paniym meaning face or faces, presence, person, face of: seraphim or cherubim, animals, surface of ground. It is also used as an adverb to describe location examples are before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime as a preposition as well examples of each are: as Christ goes before all thing, God is omnipresent; we are to go before Christ, others before us. As a preposition it means in front, in the face of the enemy, Christ was with God from the beginning. Before there was, there was God.
11. Expanse is raqiya same definition as firmament – look back in notes.
12. Heavens is shawmayhim – interesting that it has the Hebrew work mayhim (we derive waters) as part of it. It is derived from an unused Hebrew word eym meaning lofty. Defined it means: heaven, heavens, sky or visible heavens, as an abode of the stars, as the visible universe or atmosphere, the abode of God.

Read the poem I sent last night. Think about these definitions as you are doing so. Take some time to write about what you are thinking for us to share together Friday.

I leave of with these two verse to ponder:

Proverbs 20:5 A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out.


Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man.


Ecclesiasties 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.


1 Peter 1:12 God revealed to the prophets that the things they had spoken were not for their own benefit but for yours. What the prophets had spoken, the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven, has now made known to you by those who spread the Good News among you. These are things that even the angels want to look into.

I pray that we understand this day what God means when He promised us that the spirit searches all things even the depths of God. I pray that we: look toward the heavens each moment giving praise, that we keep our face set as flint and our eyes set on the things of His Kingdom, that we think on things that are holy, lovely and pure with the a devotion toward all that He is. Remember that the Holy Spirit has made all things known to you so guard your heart above all else, because out of it flows the issues of life. Be well today, because you can be!

With Love to you all...in Christ;
Candace

July 5, 2010

A Worthy Display

A Worthy Display

Running and taking off, flying and free
My crippled feet, powerful, I lift off without wings,
By faith alone, my heart is soaring,
Strong arms carry me home.

The Word of God speaks, as silence abounds,
Thundering my purpose, holding my hand.
I'm never alone, even when people are few,
Bold is my witness, my companion is true.
My trust and salvation, pulse strong and pure
To illuminate pathways, lead forward the doomed.
Melodious are your victories; so picturesque, the view...
By faith alone, my heart is soaring,
Strong arms carry me home.

Obscure as a puzzle, pieces chosen and carefully placed,
Perfection upon completion. Satisfaction. All pieces fit.
A scene preservation worthy; and we're unworthy to see,
Sing praise for forgiveness and for words spoken and true,
Grace unleashed in abundance,
to the meek and humble, troubled or doomed.
By faith alone, my heart is soaring,
Strong arms carry me home.

We are seeking, and He is calling,
and every heart needs to hear:
Eyes are opened when doors are answered,
The completed puzzle is now in view.
Not bound to a gallery, for no wall could contain,
Majestic beauty spilling over, flowing colors of his love.
Awed before this vision, words seem inadequate to express,
So I bow in silent worship, to the God that is such as this.

By Candace Huffmaster © 2006

Up and Running!

Sorry that we have not had devotions for the past few days.  My computer has been on the fritz :(
The wonderful news is that it is all better than ever now.  So bright and early tomorrow we will be back on track.

My prayers have been with you all.....
Love,
Candace

July 3, 2010

Trusting God's Story as Truth

We know from yesterday’s verses that God put the greater and lesser lights in the governing positions. He stated that this was Good.


Let’s break down some of the verses from yesterday and relate them to other scriptures in context in order to go a bit deeper with understanding God’s way of comprehending, discerning and living out or journey’s.

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Yesterday in our group meeting we were speaking about spiritual warfare, speaking God’s truth into our battles and waiting on God to show us the proper plan/ way out.

I would like to support this with Ephesians Chapter 6:9-20 (using GWT).

Masters, treat your slaves with respect. Don’t threaten a slave. You know that there is one master in heaven who has authority over both of you, and he doesn’t play favorites.

Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies. This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground. So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate. Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace. In addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Also take salvation as your helmet and the word of God as the sword that the Spirit supplies. Pray in the Spirit in every situation. Use every kind of prayer and request there is. For the same reason be alert. Use every kind of effort and make every kind of request for all of God’s people. Also pray that God will give me the right words to say. Then I will speak boldly when I reveal the mystery of the Good News. Because I have already been doing this as Christ’s representative, I am in prison. So pray that I speak about this Good News as boldly as I have to.

In Matthew 4 we see Christ utilizing all these principles. Christ went before us to show us: what to believe, how it will help us, and allow us to have the faith to persevere.

Verses 1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, “MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU'; and ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'" Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'" Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

God tells us that we have cloud of witnesses around us. He tells us He will never leave us alone or abandon us. He also tells us that the angels harken after His word. So we should believe that we stand against or up to the evil in our midst as Christ did speaking the truth appropriately. The governing power of this world is darkness, how deep that darkness is I have no idea….and do not care to find out. What I do know is that he comes to tempt us to “choose in free will” to give up, cave in and quit – “lay down like a doormat and let things trample over us- without speaking the power of the Lord God Almighty’s truth. He tries to make us tire out before we pick up our armor. Don’t do it. As Ephesians 6:13 states:

For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground.”

July 2, 2010

Day Four - The Story Being Told

We paused our study on Genesis last week with verse 16, where God made the 2 great lights.  The greater was to govern day and the lesser was to govern night.  He also made the stars.  We are moving forward with the grand finish of the Fourth Day in God's Story.  Over the weekend we will be studying these verses and drawing some parallels to understand God's love, mindset and fulfillment.

Genesis 1:17-19  God  placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.


God told us in these verses that HE set up a hierarchy of governing things and the greatest light was Good.  He did not say that the lesser light had no governing power.  Let's compare this with Romans 18 and ponder what this is speaking of.  We will discuss this more over the next few days.

Be Subject to Government


Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day,not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.


I pray that each of us willingly give ourselves to the accountability of God's love.  There is no fear in Love, we are perfected by love not fear.  Fear comes to kill, steal and destroy, but perfect love cast out all fear.  Walk into Christ, who is in God's presence and allow His glory to be the greater life upon you and in the presence of the lesser light.

With the Love and Heart of Christ - Let it be so.
Candace