August 29, 2010

Life

As for me and my house.....

What do you and your house choose this day?  Life or Death?  Blessing or a Curse. We know that God's word tells us that a curse without a cause does not come. 

Today in the search area on the lower left hand side type in the word Life.  Read through the ones that interest you.  If you do not have availability to the website then go into your concordance in the bible and look up passages that have to do with life..or death and read those.

We will be pulling these all together as we continue on our journey next week.

Much love, gratitude and joy over and for each of you.
Candace

August 27, 2010

I Have Set...Before You...Life and Death, the Blessing and the Curse

Deuteronomy  30:19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants...


Restoration Promised

"So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the LORD your God has banished you, and you return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you. "If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. "The LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.

"Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. "The LORD your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.  "And you shall again obey the LORD, and observe all His commandments which I command you today. "Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers; if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.

"For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. "It is not in heaven, that you should say, `Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' "Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, `Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

Choose Life

"See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. "But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that  you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

Ministry in Word

The faith based living – Part 1
基于信心的生活 – 第一篇

Psalm 16
诗篇16

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips. Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
神啊,求你保佑我,因为我投靠你。我的心哪,你曾对耶和华说:你是我的主;我的好处不在你以外。论到世上的圣民,他们又美又善,是我最喜悦的。以别神代替耶和华的,他们的愁苦必加增;他们所浇奠的血我不献上;我嘴唇也不提别 神的名号。耶和华是我的产业,是我杯中的分;我所得的,你为我持守。用绳量给我的地界,坐落在佳美之处;我的产业实在美好。我必称颂那指教我的耶和华;我的心肠在夜间也警戒我。我将耶和华常摆在我面前,因他在我右边,我便不致摇动。因此,我的心欢喜,我的灵快乐;我的肉身也要安然居住。因为你必不将我的灵魂撇在阴间,也不叫你的圣者见朽坏。你必将生命的道路指示我。在你面前有满足的喜乐;在你右手中有永远的福乐。

In this psalm of David we see him pouring out his affection, his hope, and his emotion toward God through his poetic use of the words in the eleven verses. It also reflects his understanding of a faith filled life. Let us try to get a closer look at the faith based living by empathizing with David in his words.
在这篇大卫的诗篇中我们看到他向神倾诉他的热爱、他的盼望和他的情怀,透过他十一节中诗意的用词。它也反映他对一个充满信心的生命的了解。让我们试着移情大卫的词句以探讨以信心为基础的生活之详细。

1. The blessing
一、祝福

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.
神啊,求你保佑我,因为我投靠你。

Keep me safe from the temptation and danger. I trust you for my protection. I come to you pleading for my security. You are my blessing, O Lord. You give me life: faith, hope, and love (1 Cor 13:13). You take me in, a pauper in all of these (Mt 5:3). You endow me with these elements of the abundant life.
保护我脱离试探与危险。我信靠你是我的保障,我来向你为我的安全请求。主啊,你是我的福气,你赐我生命:信、望与爱〔林前13:13〕。虽然我非常缺乏这些,你仍收留我〔太5:3〕。你赐我这些丰富生命的成分。

2. The benefit
二、好处

I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."
我的心哪,你曾对耶和华说:你是我的主;我的好处不在你以外。

I said from my heart, you alone are the good thing I have. You and you alone is the source of all my blessings. I understand it, I feel it, and I believe it. You are a benevolent God. You alone are good and are worthy to be called such (Mt 19:17). Before I pray for my needs you already know them and you already have plans for me that are to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me hope and a future (Jer 29:11). And
how wonderful is your plan! It is beyond my imagination, for your ways and thoughts are higher than my ways and thoughts (Isa 55:9).
我诚心诚意说,只有你是我的好处。只有你是我全部的福气。我这样了解、我这样感觉,我也这样相信。你是亲善的神,只有你是良善的,只有你配被如此称呼的〔太19:17〕。在我为我的需要祈求以前你已知道,并且你已经怀有赐我平安的计划,不是降灾祸的计划,要叫我末後有指望〔耶29:11〕。你的计划是何等奇妙!它超越我的想像,因为你的道路和意念高过我的道路和意命〔赛55:9〕。

3. The fellowship
三、相交

As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
论到世上的圣民,他们又美又善,是我最喜悦的。

I enjoy the company of fellow sojourners in this world, those followers of Christ in your presence helping one another walk in the narrow path and the small gate (Mt 7:14). You have put them in my company to edify me, encourage me, assist me, and spur me on. They are my fellow cross bearers to carry our own crosses (Mt 10:38) and to share one another's burdens (Gal 6:2). We maintain our steady walk because of Christ's presence among us reminding us to take His yoke and burden for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Mt 11:30).
我喜欢与其他世途客旅为伴,就是你与他们同在,他们彼此相助走在小路窄门中的基督跟随者〔太7:14〕。你使他们陪伴我来造就我,鼓励我,扶持我和激励我去前进。他们是我背负十架的同伴来背负我们各自的十架〔太10:38〕和分担彼的重担〔加6:2〕。我们保持稳定的脚步因为基督在我们中间提醒我们去拿他的轭和担子,因他的轭是容易的和他的担子是轻省的〔太11:30〕。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we worship God in spirit and in truth and fellowship with the saints with delight in our hearts.
愿我们以心灵和诚实来敬拜神,以心中的喜悦与圣民相交。

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

Believe and Recieve

Genesis 2:16, 17 (NAS)
The LORD God commanded  the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;  but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,  for in the day that you eat from it you  will surely die."




Today I want to make sure that we really look at the accounts leading up to the placement of Adam in the garden and what God actually stated to him about his dietary intake.

We know from our studies that God had completed all boundaries and separation good things from lesser things by the sixth day. He rested on the seventh day because it was a done deal. Understanding this allows us to see what God was telling Adam about what He could, yet should not, ingest. God said you have the right to eat freely, because I set you up to have the right to everything. However, I am going to let you in on some very beneficial insight: the tree of knowledge of good and evil is not a great choice…it is a lesser choice. When you eat from it, it will not increase your life it will work against you and in a matter of time you will surely die.

God desired Adam to “know” that he cared too deeply for him to stop short of anything less than an eternal Zoe life. This would take more than intellectual knowledge. Man would have to “learn”. Understanding comes through experience, trust, relationship which leads to maturity and the fullness of life. God did not desire Adam to have a short life filled up with knowing but never learning; a life of sorrow, held down by the weight of empty knowledge, worry, doubt, fear. No, He desired Adam to have it all. It is good to not worry about the evil …would have been best to not even have the knowledge about the evil, but to trust that God had already given him all he needed to overcome the evil..subdue it and “keep” his dominion. That was the order of each of Adams days.

We have the same order whether male or female we are. God created us in His image. So this day reject empty knowledge of good vs evil. Simply choose LIFE. Tomorrow we will see where God stated this all again in Deuteronomy. Sunday we will see where Christ speaks of things further.

My love and prayers to each of you today…Just trust God, He is able. All we have to do is believe and receive!

Candace

August 26, 2010

Make Sure in Your Planning You Remember God

Our Plans and God's Plans
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman


"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

Have you ever heard of someone who spent years of preparation for one vocation only to end up doing something completely different? Perhaps this could be said of you. Quite often we have in our minds what we believe we want to do only to have a course correction. Often the course correction comes through a major crisis that forces us into an area that we would never have considered.

Such was the case for Samuel Morse. Born in 1791, Morse grew up desiring to be an artist, and he eventually became very talented and internationally known. However, it was difficult to make a living as an artist in America during that time. A series of crises further complicated his vocational desire when his wife died; then his mother and father also died soon after. He went to Europe to paint and reflect on his life. On his return trip aboard a ship, he was captivated by discussions at dinner about new experiments in electromagnetism. During that important occasion, Morse made the following comment, "If the presence of electricity can be made visible in any part of the circuit, I see no reason why intelligence may not be transmitted by electricity." In the face of many difficulties and disappointments, he determinedly perfected a new invention, and, in 1837, applied for a patent that became what we know today as the telegraph. He also created Morse code. It was only later, after many more setbacks and disappointments, that his projects received funding.
Samuel Morse later commented, "The only gleam of hope, and I cannot underrate it, is from confidence in God. When I look upward it calms any apprehension for the future, and I seem to hear a voice saying: 'If I clothe the lilies of the field, shall I not also clothe you?' Here is my strong confidence, and I will wait patiently for the direction of Providence." Morse went on to create several other inventions and can be recognized today as the father of faxes, modems, e-mail, the internet and other electronic communication. ["Glimpses," Issue #99 (Worcester, Pennsylvania: Christian History Institute, 1998).]

God's plans may not always seem to follow our natural inclination. Perhaps God has you taking a path that may not lead to His ultimate destination for you. Trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all you do, and He shall direct your path (see Prov. 3:5-6).


Some of you may have read the poem Kaleidoscope Butterfly already. Even if you have take the time to read it again and reflect on what Os was speaking of today. My prayers and love rain down on each of you.
I thank each of you for your continued prayers for my restoration in all ways...
Candace



Kaleidoscope Butterfly

Nonsensical confidence of solid ground,
Amidst dissuading movement of all that abounds,
Without hesitation, reclined on this plane,
Seemingly anchored, as all life forms sway.
So subtle the wind, as it tousles the limbs,
Crisp wisps of foliage, giggling on end,
Now deeply planted as one with the earth,
All tension draining, giving rise to a breath like a birth.
Embraced by my nostrils, is this fragrant bouquet,
Engulfing my being like a gentle, rolling wave.
Not losing one moment, deeply merged, now entwined,
Is this peaceful pristine beauty-- so delicately floating by.
I capture each moment, gently cupped in my hands,
Like a kaleidoscope butterfly on a whimsical spring day,
Not desiring to tarnish her beauty or hesitate her fluttering flight,
Simply to pause her passage, embrace the vision, before she vanishes from sight.

Ambiguous perceptions, my reality shifts,
In slow motion, drawn backward, to the ground I drift.
Though I reach the same destination, it is as a child I now lay,
Overhead, in my innocence, I see life the clouds;
What form they take and how long they stay?
Mom look, it’s a dragon…. blowing fire… do you see?
Too late mom, it’s a pig now… see there… bouncing that ball?

Creating new memories, skillfully blending the past,
Aromatic spices comprised of rich seasons that pass.
My hunger now satisfied and its’ appetite well-fed,
While gathering stray belongings, my mind desires to reflect:

Plantings and seedlings and how they all fit;
A harvest though abundant, the choice is a producers’ pick;
Trust and faith are gold nuggets - material value cannot be obtained;
Never cling to today’s reality, for tomorrow it will change;
Even cold, callous winters are forgiven amidst soft summer rain;
And though flowers emit fragrance, wearing beauty as clothes,
Only God determines her season… and through His will she grows.

©Poem – Kaleidoscope Butterfly /
by Candace K. Huffmaster / Date April 2005

August 25, 2010

Our Job Is Always "Cultivating and Keeping"

Abad is a Hebrew word with a meaning of cultivating as in the labor of working land, tilling the soil; plowing. It means to cause to work, to make fatigued, to make weary. It also means to serve as a slave; to be made to serve; to be made to worship or honored, to cause to worship. This service can be directed toward things, people or God. When speaking of slaves it means to compel or impress into service. If it is for God it will not seem like service it will be an exhilarating experience not seeming like bondage at all. This is when our free will compels us to become “bond slaves” to Christ; we stay because our life is so good we cannot imagine leaving His work.
This is why Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to be about his fathers work as a bond slave. He was placed there to live in freedom within the good life of plenty. Now let’s look at where we derived the word “keep” from: It was translated from the Hebrew word Shamar meaning to hedge around something (as with thorns); to keep, to guard. In Ecc 12:3 it is referring to a house. It means as a watchman, at time this watchman is a prophet. It means to protect, to abstain oneself, to observe. This is also applied to Gods commands and the Sabbath. It means to regard, to attend, to take heed, beware, revere. Ultimately it means to exercise “great care” as the keeper. (We will see this employed when Adam was escorted beyond the gates of Eden by the Cherubim in a few days.)

So let’s put a bow on this today. God put Adam in the garden so that he would be His bondservant exercising “great care” as the keeper of everything. His service was directed toward things, people and God in order that He might lead all things toward “the way of Zoe life”.

In the devotion I read to start my day (you can go to tabs at top of page click on TGIF to read this devotion) Os was speaking of Josiah. What a great example of how a man was perfectly placed within in a situation by God in order to direct everyone’s attention toward “the way”. In the New Testament Paul uses the “The Way” to describe the gospel. We know that Christ is “the way” back through the gates into Eden.

With all this being said…BIG finish here. Observe yourself and your environment. God has planted you to beware of all that is going on in your land. Take heed to protect it there are things you will have to abstain from in order to give “great care” as the keeper of your garden. You will have to work it, till it and it may make you fatigued at times but keep it up you will be exhilarated and it will not seem like bondage at all. Remember the thorn of crowns placed on Christ’s head. Let that remind us to protect our thoughts and life by faith so that we can see “the way” with clarity.

My love to each of you and a prayer that you not utilize your own strength to do this task, but rely on the super God places on your natural enabling you to do ALL things through Him.

Candace

August 24, 2010

Meet Ya Right There, Don't Go Anywhere

Today as I was posting to the Emerge site, ( www.kbemerge.blogspot.com  for full details)I thought you know this is just as applicable to people in crisis.  Do not forget my dear friends that even when you are being supported through crisis it is no different than it is for those supporting you in your crisis.  Another nugget to remember is that as we are all out here just "livin' the good life" fighting the battles in victory (just a reminder so that we keep our peace and joy =D) someone next to us has not allowed Christ to meet them right where they are. 

So until they do, Christ needs you to forget your pain and count it all joy as you reach for your family member, neighbor, pen pal or co-worker.  Show them that no matter what you are going through - you will not shrink back.  Why? because you have faith in the faithful One. You have been redeemed as a faithful warrior, transformed into Him image....maybe some don't see it yet.  But never fear...God is here - and He sees you.  He ALWAYS has even before you were formed in your mothers womb.  And He said it was SO good. 

Like Adam and Eve He put them in the Garden of Eden to "cultivate it AND keep it".  Tomorrow we will be speaking more on what cultivating and keeping mean so we may apply it with His vision, effort and victory. 

May we know God and trust Him like Habakkuk.....

To Him be all the glory for ever and ever.  So be it!
Kisses,
Candace

August 21, 2010

Standing in Freedom

Free to Stand
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

"That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies..." Joshua 7:12

It matters not how strong you are. It matters not whether you have the greatest resources and talent. It matters not if you have the best plans and procedures. It will all fail if you have a break in your armor.

This is the message God told Joshua when he attempted to go against a small army at Ai, which was the Israelites' second battle in the Promised Land. Sometimes we try to figure out why we are not successful in an endeavor. We look at all aspects of our performance to see what went wrong. For the people of Israel, it was not easily seen on the surface. Everything seemed just as it should be from Joshua's vantage point, so when his army was soundly defeated, he cried out to God, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?" (Josh. 7:7a)

The people had been defeated because God could not bless them. One person had violated the covenant with God. They were not to take any possessions from the first battle, but one person failed to live up to this, and the whole army suffered.
Sin makes our armor vulnerable to attack from satan, who then gains permission from God to attack us in the area where we have failed to uphold righteousness. If we break down in moral purity, satan comes in and establishes a stronghold. If we give place to bitterness and unforgiveness, we will break fellowship with God and others. If we become money-focused, we will fall into greed and deception. It is a vicious cycle.
Examine your armor today. Make sure you are not susceptible to attack. Begin from a solid spiritual foundation and your chances of success will be great.

The old saying that a family or group is only as strong as the weakest link is true. Especially in the spiritual realm. The great news following this bad news is that Christ came to reinforce all the links. We each must examine, discern or judge - whatever you desire to call it - our "self". We must ask the Holy Spirit, which through Christ we have received, to show us what our true image in self looks like, acts like and then give that which is less than His best for us to Him so that He can work out our salvation in us.

Do not be mistaken we are here to support, encourage, confront and give GOD'S wisdom to each other. All with the focus of God's will. This is to be in love and not for "self" gain of the giver being the focus. It is true that we all gain when the body is in unity, but loves first desire is to cover the sin - not expose it in ridicule and shame. It is for the edification, sanctification, prosperity in fullness of all things.

Look back in the archives to increase your understanding in the area of "standing".  When we have done all to stand then we are to "stand".  It is through Christ, what He did, that we have the Holy Spirit which searches the depths of all things allowing us to remain standing.  God also tells us that if we shrink back that He has no pleasure in us.  Increase your knowledge in this area so that you can receive the promise: where there is Christ there is Liberty.  Then may I suggest that you stand in it.  Above all else don't allow yourself to choose the path that leads to death.  We know that God said his people perish for lack of knowledge - so if you(or I) are a weak link....that puts the ball in YOUR(or my) court, not God's- ouch!

With the love of Christ I pray this over us all so we might see as He sees, love as He loves and be transformed into the maturity of Him.
Candace

August 20, 2010

Quiters and Cheaters Are Rather The Same - Neither Prosper

We can quit jobs, community, family and even God. However, we must understand that when we quit (cave in, lay down and give up) we are not cheating ourselves and others out of allowing God to step in, step up and empower us to transform us, situations and communities.  Let us all be part of His solution, not what grieves Him.  With this in mind we must seek Gods will for variables:

Within families we have relationships which lead to "titles". We have a job description even if it is not written out. Some of us would be fired because we are a total slackard. Maybe divorce is our way of firing people and trying to find a new person with better skills to handle the jobs at hand. However, just as in the work force we may move into another company or organization but unless we choose to be a useful, hard working entity the same dysfunction is going to build our reputation within that entity. Sometimes we stick with family when we should be moving on toward what God has created us for and planned our talents for His work. We must try to communicate first and not keep changing jobs - don't we think that person is a bad risk with no person skills. God designed us to learn and grow not quit and walk away.

On the other hand we would not stick with a job that takes us for granted. After repeated attempts to talk to our employer, if they did not seem to desire what we have to offer we would move to another business that desired to employ what we had to give with our best efforts. That is what the devotion was about yesterday. It also has to do with "standing in the wrong place" which is a past devotion in the archives.
I pray that we if we have not done so, we realize that our families are our first "order of business" to God. If we do not have that right God will not bless or increase us as we go out into the work force. Step by step we will see all crumble before us..unless we seek FIRST his ways so that all might be well with our soul.
With the Love of Christ,
Candace
New Things
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13b-14

Our past can be a hindrance or a help in moving toward God's purposes for each of us. For some, the past has meant pain and heartache, and grace is required so that we do not let our past dictate our responses to the future. If we allow our past to make us a victim, then we have not entered into the grace that God has for us. If we live on memories of past successes and fail to raise our vision for new things, we again are victims of our past.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland" (Is. 43:19). Our past should only be viewed for what we can learn from it. We must move forward and avoid viewing the negative or the positive for more than what we can learn. Many have allowed their past to dictate their future. God is always about doing new things in our lives. He gives fresh revelation of His purposes in our lives. Do not live in the past. Do not hold onto bitterness that may hinder God from doing new and exciting things in your life. He turns our wastelands into streams of water to give life, not death.

How have you viewed your past? Has it hindered you in some areas of your life? Have you relied on past successes to dictate what you will do in the future? Put aside such thoughts and allow God to do a new thing in your life. Ask Him to help you see the new things He wants to do in and through you today.

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" [Author unknown].





His Will vs Our Will

Pride That Leads To Argument
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2 by Os Hillman

August 19th

"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned" (Titus 3:10-11).

Have you ever had to deal with a person that just wanted to argue with you, no matter which position they took? This person usually has a strong opinion and draws conclusions quickly, rarely giving credence to other's viewpoint.

The apostle Paul knew how to deal with such people. Once he saw this pattern, he confronted the person. If they continued, he cut off fellowship. However, if this person happens to be your boss, you will not be able to avoid the person.

The root stronghold of a person who is argumentative is pride and fear. This person is not secure in who they are as a person. They mask their inadequacies through a need to always be right.

I had a business partner once who was deeply hurt by lawyers in a corporate take-over. Ever since that time he was argumentative with every lawyer he had to deal with. One time, I had to confront him and tell him what was behind his behavior. Thankfully, he had the grace and humility to repent and renounce his stronghold of pride, insecurity and fear. We proceeded to finish our project.
When you run into this in the workplace, pray for understanding. Negative behavior is like the warning light on your car dashboard. It's telling you there is something going on under the hood. Realize this person is in a prison guarded by a root stronghold that has been a part of his/her life for along time. Unfortunately, it usually takes a significant crisis for that person to examine themselves and become free.

Pray that God gives you grace to work with such a person and pray that God will deliver them.

Oz Hillman said it all today, let us not enter into someone else's battles. We are supposed to walk away, not stay and drown in someone else's rebellion. When we walk away we are not giving up or being hateful, we are following God's advice.

Walk in Agape Love and believe that God loves them more than we ever could. We must not be so selfish of the discomfort of separation that it leads us to think about our comfort before another's salvation, reparation with God and unity of His body.

With Love,
Candace

Everything Is Alright vs Everything Is All Right

The Response of Faith
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

..."Everything is all right".... 2 Kings 4:26
The prophet Elisha often would travel through the town of Shunem, and in that town was a well-to-do couple who extended hospitality to him. At first, they simply offered Elisha a meal when he came through town. Then, seeing that Elisha needed a place to stay and study, they built a room for him above their house so that each time he came through town, he had a place to stay. He was so appreciative of their kindness that one day he asked the wife what he could do for her. His servant Gehazi later informed Elisha that the woman was barren and her husband was old. " 'About this time next year,' Elisha said, 'you will hold a son in your arms' " (2 Kings 4:16). A year later the son arrived.

One day the father was working in the field, and the son became ill and died. The woman ran to meet Elisha to inform him. When Elisha asked what was wrong, she did not panic and react in fear. Her response to Elisha seemed almost unnatural. "Everything is all right," she said. Elisha went to the boy and raised him from the dead. It was a glorious miracle. (See Second Kings 4.)

Faith looks at situations through God's eyes, not the eyes of our limited understanding. This woman did not panic, for she knew something more than the current circumstance. Faith does not panic, but realizes that what looks like devastating circumstances may be God's plan to bring glory to Himself by demonstrating His power. When Jesus appeared on the water to the disciples in the middle of the night, they exclaimed, "It's a ghost!" (see Mt. 14:26) First appearances can bring great fear upon us even to the point of paralyzing us. Find the Lord in your circumstance today. Exercise your faith today and trust Him for His outcome in the situation.
When I read this I noticed the scripture did not have the woman saying in a down cast give up tone "alright" then a sigh. No, she stated in that crisis - "No worries it is ALL RIGHT, but we do have to take action" - so today: I pray that today we look at each moment and remember who is upholding all things, lean on His promises and allow His will to be done into our situations. He will make sure things turn our "all right".

With Love,
Candace

Ministry in Word

Seek Him – Part 3
寻求他 – 第三篇

Jeremiah 29:13
耶利米书29:13

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
你们寻求我,若专心寻求我,就必寻见。

Continued from Part 2
上接第二篇

True faith is trusting God on His promises. The magi went to King Herod to inquire of the where about of the new born king. In turn Herod inquired of the religious leaders, the chief priests and scribes of the people, who quoted the Biblical prophecy of His birthplace (Mt 2:4-5). The magi had faith in the Biblical prophecies as the utterance of God, which led them to Jesus. When they searched for God with all their heart, their true
faith, they found Jesus.
真信心是相信神的应许。博士去问希律王新生王的所在,希律王转问宗教领袖就是大祭司和文士,他们引述圣经中关于他出生地的预言〔太2:4-5〕。博士相信圣经预言是神说的话,这就带他们到耶稣那里。当他们专心,就是以真信心寻求神,他们就寻见耶稣。
We must put our faith in God’s Word in our search for Him. Jesus told the Jews, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” (Jn 5:39-40) When we search for the Word with true faith, we will come to Jesus for He is the Word (Jn 1:1).

我们寻求神的时候一定要对神的话〔道〕有信心。耶稣告诉犹太人说:「你们查考圣经,因你们以为内中有永生;给我作见证的就是这经。然而,你们不肯到我这里来得生命。」〔约5:39-40〕当我们以真信心寻求道,我们就会到耶稣那里因为他就是道〔约1:1〕。

3. Search with passion
三、 以热忱寻求

In our search for Jesus we must be active to pursue Him at where He is, not passive to wait for Him to come to where we are. Matthew 2:1 says that the magi traveled to Jerusalem from the east. Judging from their expensive gifts to Jesus these magi must be royalties in their own countries. They traded their comfort and dignity at home for long distance travel hardship and risk to search for Jesus. In ancient time travel involved many difficulties and dangers, without the modern accommodations and hospitality we have taken for ranted. The magi did not just put up with minor inconvenience to search for Jesus, they sacrificed greatly for it.
我们寻求耶稣必须主动地在他所在处去追求他,而非被动地等候他到我们所在处。马太2:1说博士从东方到耶路撒冷。从他们送耶稣的贵重礼物可看到这些博士在他们的本国一定是贵族。他们以在家的舒适和尊贵来换取长途跋涉的艰辛和危险去寻求耶稣。古时候远行有许多困难和危险,没有我们认为当然的现代化住宿及招待。博士并非只是忍耐些微的不便去寻求耶稣,而是为此作了重大牺牲。

This shows how passionate they were with their search for the new born king. They were willing to adjust themselves from where they were to where Jesus was. When they searched for God with such passion, they found Jesus.
这表现他们寻求新生王是多热切。他们愿意从他们的所在处调整到耶稣的所在处。当他们以如此热忱来寻求神,他们就寻见耶稣。

When we are ready to adjust ourselves from where we are to where God is, we are ready to find Jesus.
当我们可以从我们所在处调整到神所在处,我们就可以寻见耶稣。

Conclusion
结语

God told the Israelites and us through the prophet Jeremiah, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

神通过先知耶利米告诉以色列人及我们:「你们寻求我,若专心寻求我,就必寻见。」

Search for God with all our heart means we search with the right reason, the true faith, and great passion. When we do, God promises us that we will find Him. Let us love our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength (Dt 6:5).
专心寻求神的意思是我们以正确理由、真正信心和认真热忱来寻求。若我们如此行,神应许我们要寻见他。让我们尽心、尽性、尽力爱我们的神。〔申6:5〕

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

August 17, 2010

True Beauty In All Things Is The Glory Of God

As I have been reading and researching "facts" about the four rivers that break out of the river flowing from Eden I learned and pondered many things.  I am placing the links below if you are interested in the best of what I found.

After searching, reading, and reflecting I realized what I was reading was interesting however I was missing the beauty due to desiring knowledge and facts.  I was cutting out the relationship with God in search of wisdom.  I was eating from the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" instead of the "Tree of Life".  Wow! 

I can see how easily this happens.  When I listened to that quiet still voice what I heard was sure it has meaning, sure those rivers can be traveled but look to me...look AT me.  Stay here with me don't be so quick to seek a journey away from me.  Ouch!  Here I was being Martha, when I should have been Mary.

God created a beautiful environment most of the elements spoken of in many translations of our bible are Gold, Lapiz, Onyx, fragrance etc.  If God did not desire us to surround ourselves with beauty he would not have created them.  Beauty tangible and intangible is of God.  Art, Music, Love, Conversation are all to be utilized to show praise it is the our pouring of our hearts. The beauty of  our appearance, our homes, landscaping, or objects we decorate self / environment with are included in what I am speaking of. This is all Eden.  Beauty for no other purpose than it is beautiful, desirable and not necessary; simply a DELIGHT.  This delight is the glorious outpouring of Gods heart.  The one river flowing is the love of God and all things branching from that are reaching the four corners of this earth for the purpose of flowing back to Him in thanksgiving, praise, honor.  I believe God simply desire for us to show respect to the beautiful things He desires to lavish upon us, share through us so that He is seen.

As I have written many times over you are beautifully and wonderfully made.  Made first for a relationship with God and then with mankind.  I pray that you stay with us, find all the beauty that God created within you to share and then sing, dance, write, speak, CREATE whatever you desire.  Not because you are perfect at it, but because you can ....for Him.

This is what Kaleidoscope Butterfly was created to support...The True Beauty of God in all and through all of us.

I pray that today He is glorified in all we do.  I tie all this together with verses which are pivotal in all KB seeks to unveil with Love. Proverbs 4:23 (Amplified) Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.   Isaiah 61:1-3 (GWT) The Spirit of the Almighty Lord is with me because the Lord has anointed me to deliver good news to humble people.
He has sent me to heal those who are brokenhearted, to announce that captives will be set free and prisoners will be released. He has sent me to announce the year of the Lord’s good will and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all those who grieve. He has sent me to provide for all those who grieve in Zion, to give them crowns instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of tears of grief, and clothes of praise instead of a spirit of weakness.  They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, the Plantings of the Lord, so that he might display his glory.

Amen!
With Love,
Candace

http://www.kjvbible.org/rivers_of_the_garden_of_eden.html  


http://jhom.com/topics/rivers/eden.htm
http://www.tonycooke.org/free_resources/articles_gen_tony/rivers_eden.html
https://pgchurch.sslpowered.com/pgchurch.ca/sermons/Genesis2.pdf




August 16, 2010

The River Flows From It

Genesis 2:8-15 (NAS)



The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. That's where he put the man whom he had formed. The LORD God made all the trees grow out of the ground. These trees were nice to look at, and their fruit was good to eat. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil grew in the middle of the garden.  A river flowed from Eden to water the garden. Outside the garden it divided into four rivers. The name of the first river is Pishon. This is the one that winds throughout Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is pure. Bdellium and onyx are also found there.)  The name of the second river is Gihon. This is the one that winds throughout Sudan. The name of the third river is Tigris. This is the one that flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to farm the land and to take care of it.
We see in verse 10 that a river flowed ”from” Eden to water the garden. We notice that once outside of the garden it “divided”. Once this was established “then” the Lord God took man and “put” him “in” the Garden of Eden – “Why?” So that man would farm the land and to take care of it.
This is our first life lesson where God was showing us what it looks like to “seek first the kingdom of God” because all else flow out of that. At least all Goodness does.

When I went back to Matthew to read the context of these scriptures in verses 20-34 I was amazed at what I now see.  I have a new understanding and appreciation for these words. After all when God had Adam in the garden he was perfectly clothed and in right standing with His creator. Nothing at all was between the two of them. Please read the scriptures below to prepare for where God’s story is leading us in the coming days.

I pray that we seek first His Kingdom, that we store up treasures for ourselves in heaven, and that we receive our protection for our hearts so that what flows out of it will cover the multitudes. I pray that our eye is unclouded so that we can be the light to disperse the darkness. I give thanks for our provision so that we can be filled with joy, peace, harmony, charity and show how great is our God.

In Christ, let it be done to us as He has desired,

Candace

Matthew 6:20-34 (GWT)

Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal. 21Your heart will be where your treasure is. 22“The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light in you is darkness, how dark it will be! 24“No one can serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25“So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26“Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27“Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? 28“And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. 29But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. 30That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith? 31“Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. 33But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you. 34“So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

August 13, 2010

The Faithfulness of God - TGIF Devotional- by Os Hillman

"The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down." Psalm 145:13b-14

Have you ever had a relationship with someone who was faithful? You knew you could depend on that person to do what he said. You learned that his word was completely trustworthy. If he said he would call you, he would. If he said he'd be somewhere at a certain time, he'd be there. In fact, if he was late, you began to wonder if he had an accident because it was so contrary to his nature. It's great to have friends who are faithful.

God is faithful. He is faithful to fulfill every promise in His Word. Sometimes we think God isn't faithful because it appears He has not fulfilled a desire that we have. Sometimes we think He is not faithful because of a crisis event that seems to say God isn't faithful. We must remember that God is more concerned about accomplishing His ultimate purpose in the life of every believer than giving us the desires of our heart. Sometimes this results in hardship.

The Bible is full of accounts of God's faithfulness that was often accompanied by hardship. He brought Joseph out of slavery to be greatly used in a nation. He delivered the people from Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land. He gave Abraham the son of promise late in his life. He delivered David from his enemies and made him a king. In story upon story, we learn of God's faithfulness. Are you a faithful man or woman? The workplace needs faithful men and women. Take an inventory of your life today and ask God if you have been faithful with what He has entrusted to you.

Today before I opened this devotional I was trying to prioritize my responsibilities for the day.  I prayed that the mercy and grace of God cover me.  I know I will make mistakes and I know that if others don't understand what is going on with the organization and all the situations that God has us supporting so that women, children and businesses do not fall into temptation, crisis etc they might easily get offended thinking they are being put off, overlooked or not cared about. 

God basically told me to test his faithfulness to cover me...the organization and hearts of everyone He desires for us to help.  So I am.  He tells us to give what is due others, to serve as thought we are serving Him and to love above all else.  That is my prayer for all of us to day.  Also not to worry, because it will not add joy or another minute to our lives. 

With the love of Christ I ask this for us all.....above all else.
Kisses,
Candace

August 10, 2010

Life Verses Knowledge of Good and Evil

Genesis 2:8,9 (The Message)


Then GOD planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. GOD made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.

When we really sit with each verse of Genesis we can see how thoughtful God is in every way. Even when creating the earth and it's environment he left nothing to chance. Until He created man to care for things he did not create the garden. After He created the garden of His delight, He then placed Man in it. Notice that this was not man's choice. Just as God placed the stars in the sky to be signs and wonders, markers for time and seasons, He also put Man in his destined environment.

With that being said, God still allowed man the choice of living within His place of delight or in control and left to his own devices. Man chose Knowledge of Good and Evil over Abundance Life.
We will discuss this in more detail later on in Genesis.

Today let's praise God for His pupose and plan, for our salvation and deliverance through Christ. Let's share of our hope from disaster and how there is rest due to His lamb. Let's shout with joy that He is risen, His life is liberating to the lame, His breath flows from our praises and enlivens the dryest of things.
I pray that this permiates your soul and that your spirit prospers more today....share of yourself with others. You are His delight and I am delighted to know you,

Candace

August 9, 2010

God Created Order; We Created The Mess

When thinking about what we have learned while studying Genesis, we must clarify which mess we are embracing.  I know that that in our lack of maturity in Christ we can become okay with  with the fact that we are sinners and allow comfort to take precedence over the renewing of our character so that we can be transformed into His image.  
 
God did not desire us to go through this process of refinement.  But I am so thankful that He knew from the beginning what allowing free will would take us to so that He planned the way out for us.....if we will allow it, and embrace His way to Zoe Life.  This is "the way". This is our journey. And God said it is a good journey with all that is good waiting for us along this path.  Believe in Him deeply, honestly, passionately. 

I pray that we will run into His embrace freely so that we might have rest for souls.

With the Love of our Christ,
Candace


Embracing the Mess


TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Monday, August 09 2010

"Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest." Proverbs 14:4
My wife and I run together through a new home subdivision. Often we see the street filled with red clay from the land as bulldozers clear it to lay a foundation. The job site is littered with lumber, all sorts of trash from workers, and is generally a mess. The house looks ugly; it has all its insides exposed as it is being pieced together, yet this process is necessary to get to the finished product. When completed, the home is beautiful. The landscaping looks like it came out of a home-design magazine. Everything is clean and perfect in order for the new homeowner to move in.

Our walk with God is much the same process. Often we must go through a messy period of our lives in which all aspects of it are in disarray. It is in these times that God builds a new structure. He might remove some structural timbers in our lives and replace them with new ones. He might even add on another room. And unless this process takes place, we will never see the end product. The goal is more Christlikeness. In order to achieve this in us, He requires a period of removing all that is not of Him. It can be a painful process.

It would be impossible to keep oxen in a barn without having to clean up the mess from time to time. It just comes with the territory, but the result of the oxen is an abundant harvest. God may be allowing a mess in order to ensure a fruitful harvest in your life. Learn from Him so that you might experience the fulfillment of His purposes for you in these times.

August 7, 2010

Breath of Life

Genesis 2:4-7 (Message Translation)


This is the story of how it all started, of Heaven and Earth when they were created.

Adam and Eve

At the time GOD made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground--GOD hadn't yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)--GOD formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive--a living soul!

We learn more about this from Hebrew 4:12 (GWT) God's word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God's word judges a person's thoughts and intentions.

In Isaiah 42:1 (NAS) God speaks of His Soul and Spirit. In the Matthews Gospel this is reiterated. "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.

Then in 1 Corinthians 15:45 (GWT) This is what Scripture says: "The first man, Adam, became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

I will close with Isaiah 26:9 from God’s Word Translation this is my prayer for us all:

With my soul I long for you at night. Yes, with my spirit I eagerly look for you. When your guiding principles are on earth, those who live in the world learn to do what is right.
With the Love of our Christ,
Candace

If you want definitions of spirit and soul they are listed below – Enjoy your Saturday =D

Soul - we translated from the Greek word Psuche which means:

1. breath
        a. the breath of life
             1. the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing
             2. of men

2. that in which there is life

3. the soul - the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)
         a. the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished
             from other parts of the body)

Spirit – we translated from the Greek word Pneuma which means:

1. the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
               a. the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides
                     1. the spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and equal to God, the
                          divine nature of Christ              
                     2. life giving spirit

2. the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one
               a. the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.

3. a movement of air (a gentle blast)
               a. of the wind, hence the wind itself
               b. breath of nostrils or mouth

August 5, 2010

Stepping Away From Worry

Genesis Chapter 2:1-3 (NAS)

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

When we break down all the Hebrew word that we translated these verses from this states that all the creation was completed AND all authority set in place. All God’s work was put in order and set with the functionality and purpose to be done. It had all been thought through, see to completion and God blessed it by not knowing it was done, finished and taking His rest. Part of this definition is separating or stepping away. Which made me think……?

If God put all power in place and we choose if we live by blessing or curse then all that happens is not necessarily God’s will it is what we “allow” to take place.

• We know a curse with out a cause does not come.
• We know He asks us to choose this day who we will follow.
• We know He asks us to choose life so that we will have rest for our souls.
• We know that we have the authority to choose a blessing or a curse.


This is because He ordained it by the seventh day and said it was so….and so it is.
Amen, Hallelujah, Shalom

Candace

As I was working on this devotion this morning, I remembered the verses to this song that I adore:

If we’ve ever needed you God it’s now, God it’s now. We are desperate for your love reaching down, reaching down. Revive us now. We are on our knees reaching out, reaching up. Hear us now, revive us now. Heal us now.
Then I had a new song in my heart and these were the lyrics with the same tune:

We are desperate for your word – speaking out.
So Today let us hear, Today let us speak…in understanding and knowledge of who He is, what they created with design for His purposes.
Let it be done to us as He wills.

In Jesus name and with His heart I ask in unity with who ever chooses to align with Elohiym. And ask that His kingdom come here on earth this moment.

We know the Angels of God are victorious because His arm is not too short. It is long and strong. His hand of provision is not weak it grasps what is needed whether for protection or provision and it handles all things. This is why we are not fit for the kingdom of God if we put our hand on the plow (or handle) and then remove it or turn back. We are not yet in His image for His purposes. Not because of His choice…it is because He asked us to choose life and live. We choose to remove our hands and choose what is less, comfortable, and produces little.

May it never be said of us…We are the ones that when we have done all to stand and the waves of life are bombarding us to the point we think we cannot possibly take another hit, He grabs us the angels uphold us in His word and we REMAIN!

Now THAT is ALL God, and what a powerful God He is to sustain all things right from the beginning….at the end of the sixth day He had Sweet, Sweet Sweet rest. I pray that you do too…in Him.

Kisses,
C

August 4, 2010

Ministry in Words

Seek Him – Part 1
寻求他 – 第一篇

Jeremiah 29:13
耶利米书29:13

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
你们寻求我,若专心寻求我,就必寻见。

Introduction
前言

Through the prophet Jeremiah the Lord gave the Israelites who were in exile in Babylon this promise: that they will seek God and find Him when they search for Him with all their heart. I wonder why God didn’t say that they will seek God and find Him when they search for Him with all their eyes or ears, with all their observation and attention.  This is because our God is a spirit so He is not normally visibly or audibly observable.  Besides, we cannot find Him on our own. If not for Jesus the Son of Man who came to seek and save us who were lost, we would never be able to find Him. It takes our heart that is in touch with His heart to find Him. When we seek Him as a response to His seeking us, we find Him.
神通过先知耶利米给流放在巴比伦的以色列人这个应许:就是他们寻求神,若专心寻求神,就必寻见。我觉得奇怪为什麽神并未说他们寻求神,若用眼睛或耳朵,就是用观察力或注意力寻求神,就必寻见。这是因为我们的神是一个灵,所以他通常并不是在视觉或听觉上可以查觉到的。并且我们凭自己不能寻见他,若不是耶稣这位人子来寻找拯救我们这些失丧的人,我们就永不能寻见他。我们需要有一颗摸着他的心之心方能寻见他。当我们以寻求他来回应他寻找我们的时候,我们就寻见了。

Searching for Him with all our heart means searching for Him with a totally dedicated heart. Let’s consider what constitutes our search for Him with all our heart by looking at the account of the magi who searched for the baby Jesus.
专心寻求神的意思就是全心全意寻求他。让我们看博士寻找婴孩耶稣的故事来思想专心寻求神是什麽样子的。

1. Search with the right reason
一、 以正确的理由寻求

First, searching with all our heart is searching with the right reason, the right motive. Let’s look at two passages in the Gospel of Matthew.
首先,专心寻求就是以正确的理由或动机来寻求。让我们来看马太福音的两段经文。

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." (Mt 2: 1-2)
当希律王的时候,耶稣生在犹太的伯利恒。有几个博士从东方来到耶路撒冷,说: 那生下来作犹太人之王的在那里?我们在东方看见他的星,特来拜他。〔太2:1-2〕

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Mt 2: 10-11)
他们看见那星,就大大的欢喜;进了房子,看见小孩子和他母亲马利亚,就俯伏拜那小孩子,揭开宝盒,拿黄金、乳香、没药为礼物献给他。〔太2:10-11〕

In Matthew 2:1-2, the magi declared that the reason they searched for Jesus was to worship Him. What is recorded in Matthew 2:10-11 proves that worship was their true motive. Their deeds matched their words. When they found Jesus they prostrated themselves and worshiped Him.
在马太2:1-2博士声称他们寻求耶稣的理由是要拜他,而马太2:10-11的记载证明了他们真正的动机就是敬拜。他们的言行一致,当他们找到耶稣他们就俯伏拜他。

On the other hand, during Jesus’ life time there were many people who searched for Him for various reasons other than their dedication to Jesus:
另外一方面,在耶稣的一生中有许多人并非为了对耶稣献身而寻求他,而是为了各样不同的理由:

>King Herod searched for baby Jesus in order to kill Him due to his own insecurity.  Failed to find Him, he even ordered the slaughter of all boys age 2 and below to make sure that the new born king was eliminated.
>希律王因为他自己感到不安全因而寻找婴孩耶稣来杀害他。但他找不到,就下令屠杀所有两岁及以下的男孩,要肯定那新生王被灭绝了。

When we seek God but will not let Him rule in our life, we are, like Herod, wanting to be in control ourselves.
当我们寻求神但又不愿意让他掌管我们的生命,我们就像希律一样要自己掌握一切。


> After the crowd, numbering 5000 of men alone, were fed miraculously, they searched for Jesus in order to crown Him so that they might always have their fill.
>那群众中光是男人就有五千,他们神奇地得到喂饱後,就寻求耶稣来推他为王好让他们永远得饱足。

When we look to God only for our physical needs, we may miss the greater spiritual blessings. Jesus said that our physical needs are important, “but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to [us] as well.” (Mt 6:33)
当我们只为了我们肉体上的需要来仰望神,我们就有可能失去那更大的属灵福气。耶稣说我们肉体的需要是重要的,但「[我]们要先求他的国和他的义,这些东西都要加给[我]们了。」〔太6:33〕

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we seek Him with all our heart so we may find Him.
愿我们专心寻求他,好让我们寻见他。

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

August 2, 2010

The Close of Chapter One - God's Epic

Genesis 1:29-31 (NAS) Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which hass fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves  on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
As we close out the first chapter of God’s Epic to us can see how much love and care He took to safe guard all things from any harm. In God’s divine order he had nothing taking life blood from any living thing. He said this was good. We know this order changed after the fall of Adam and Eve.

I am excited to make it into chapter 2 and look into all the small details of God’s story that I might have overlooked over the years. Here is a brief compilation of chapter one.

Day one – earth, deep, spirit moving over surface – God called light to be there and the light was good to separate light from dark

Day two- God put the expanse in the middle of the waters to separate what was above and below. He called it heaven.

Day three -He gathered the water below the heavens so the dry land would appear. He called this earth and the gathering of waters He called the seas.

Day five- the water had living creatures, the sky had birds flying in the expanse of the heavens each like each other in separate spaces.

Day six - the earth brought forth living creatures after their kind: cattle, creeping things, and beasts. Then God made man in His image and likeness. Man is to rule over the fish, birds and every living thing that moves on the earth. He gave us every plant yielding see on the surface of the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding see for our food. To beast of the earth, birds of the sky and every thing that moves on earth which has life, He gave every green plant for food.

I pray that each of us think about God's divine order of things, look around us and marvel. There is nothing that He has not put thought, time and effort into creating.  He asks us not to lean on our own understanding, so today ask Him why He choose these ways and said it is good.  Ask Him to tell us anything that has been hidden - Through Christ, He gave us His spirit for this very reason.  He made us in His image to understand who He is, how He is and then Be "like" Him here on earth......as it is in Heaven.

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

August 1, 2010

From Coversations With My Dad

TRUE LIFE IN ALL FORMS


Life constantly spinning all around;
unanswered questions still abound
Noise and commotion appear in my face
They cloud my world, so I unleash my faith.
Walk swiftly my sister, no longer my child;
The captives are waiting they’re not easily found
My arm stretches out; the good will be found
Darkness cannot cover me within them
The blessed are the innocent as time draws to an end
All peace at this time comes from within;
External pressures compress their will
True life, in all forms ,comes from above;
Separation, distinction, space and time
Are all are contenders in My grace divine
Be patient my angel, you are on your way home
I’m here before you, my face still not seen;
Right now in your mind as you imagine me to be
Just think of our Father and his divine plan;
Created you an image… right from His mind
You see how you stand here,
Do you know what you reflect?
It is His image so all will know that I exist.
Remember in the mirror and all that you saw?
Not your face but me, looking back into you
A vision not created by mere man;
But that of my Father made pure and complete.
Walk gently, walk slowly with deliberate steps
I’m here right beside you never dropping your hand
Life is for living not missing one thing;
Blessings of abundance are coming your way.
Your heart is still beating now with my blood;
Each pulse is life spirit of goodness from above.
Breathe deep my sweet angel and enjoy that fresh smell;
Release in assurance of a life bought by Me
A gift to my Father, one more soul I’ve saved;
There are many still searching,
There is more work still to do.
Just follow behind me, my God will not fail;
His purpose was written on the sun, moon and stars
The heavens contain it; such splendor unseen
One day, together, all answers we will know
Till then let us wander all corners of the earth,
Waving our banner to spread our concern
The days are not longer, no shorter indeed!
My father is watching; we are all on bended knee
Much mercy and compassion are here for the take
Don’t be disappointed when they do not reach
Keep going, keep hoping their names I know
By stopping time is wasted: let’s hurry up home
Too long I have been waiting; I miss you all
Let’s scream, jump and worship at the top of our lungs
“Jesus is coming; He’s calling us home!”
“Please don’t dare wander; His face is in view!”
“People will perish, He said it is so!”
“Come with us quickly; We see the way”
“My brothers and sisters we are all different age!”
“Each has a mission, a vision, a dream;
Planted and created for this time of need!”
“The workers are needed to come to the field;
The storms are around us but the crops will still yield!”
“ Trust in the Savior and do not look back!”
“ Keep planting and sowing, more seeds can still grow;
No torrents will touch you, you are under His wing!”
“Sunshine is promised and pride of the crops;
Together we will harvest and enjoy the spoils:
Life of abundance, eternally our home!”
By Candace Huffmaster
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