December 29, 2010

Out With The Old……

It is a good thing God doesn’t throw old things away – He transforms them. 

We are new creatures in Christ, perfected, in His image.  With that in mind let’s think about not trashing things but in the Spirit of God use them for Good.

2010 has been an extremely moving year in so many ways to many of us.  The highs have been rich and the lows have been insightful.  Only the sheer power of God’s love could have undergirded and propelled the safety as well as wisdom found on this side of the moments we’ve passed through.

I pray that as you enter 2011 you take pause to praise Him for the difficult AND the lackadaisical ever mindful of His purpose, will and good pleasure for us all.

I thank God for each of you.  I too have been ever changed by you.

May God bless each of you – I pray you feel the sunshine on your face each and every day this year.

With the Love of our Christ,

Kisses,

Candace

 

New Day

It’s a new day

sing a song like the birds

It’s a new day

the utter darkness is gone

It’s a new day

let’s leave the past behind

It’s a new day

to give him all the glory

 

So wake up; don’t dare slumber!

Your time is here; rise and shine!

 

It’s a new day

to rejoice with your redeemer

It’s a new day

to glorify our King

It’s a new day

let’s hit the road running

 

So much to do….

empowered by his right hand

 

It’s a new day

our family is now together

It’s a new day

our father is here inside

It’s a new day

the heavens shake with laughter

It’s a new day

His kingdom is now complete

It’s a new day

let’s live in love forever

It’s a new day

and forever we are home!

 

By Candace Huffmaster

2008 ©all rights reserved

December 28, 2010

Are We Stones Comprising The Pathway, Or An Awkward One That Make Someone Trip?

As I was reading the devotion for this morning, different scriptures kept popping into my mind.  The verses in 1 Corinthians 10 where we are being implored to learn from the experiences of the God’s people as they were being led by Moses. “They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them, and that rock was Christ.” and “We shouldn’t put the Lord to the test as some of them did.” 

Think about when Christ was in the desert being tempted.  Satan suggested that Christ turn the stone into bread.  Christ knew he had to trust the love of God, not test Him.  He followed that by stating God’s word, “Man cannot live on bread alone but from every word that precedes from the mouth of God”.

I have often pondered and conversed with God about the reason Moses didn’t get to enter the promised land but only see if from afar.  God wanted him to exemplify that we are to converse through relationship, love.  Striking that rock was a complex reaction.  It was based on Moses’ frustration with the people so he was lashing out.  He wanted to demonstrate power….his power or Gods?”  Christ is our rock, through Him we are delivered, rescued, saved eternally for relationship.  What if symbolized Moses striking Christ himself?  If it appears that we are forcing God to give us what He was wanting to freely give us, I can only imagine how that must make God feel.  There is no liberty or joy in that.  God tells us where there is Christ there is liberty.  I think that Moses conversing with the rock, relating the dilemma and his concerns would have been pretty cool.  That being said, I cannot begin to wrap my mind around all the pressures that Moses must have been under.  So I am going to just thank God for getting him through it all and allowing Moses to see the promise even if from a distance.  Moses must have been elated knowing God had delivered them so he could get finally get some rest.

I pray that we not tolerate insecurity and pride, but that we allow His spirit to transform us as we walk through out the emotional reactions we subject ourselves, others and HIs kingdom to.  May God  be glorified as we trust in Him to provide as He sees fit and in His timing.  Let us exemplify this rock as our alter place where we lay our ways of accomplishing things down and do it the way God has requested, so that His life may pour out and all may come to the knowledge of His saving grace.

Enjoy this day….it is a gift directly from His hand.  And you didn’t even have to force Him to give it to you, did you?

Kisses,Smile

Candace

Management By Force

– by So Hillman TGIF

"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink." - Numbers 20:8


Moses and the people had been traveling for days without water. The people were thirsty. They were complaining and grumbling about their plight, and Moses became the object of their complaining. Moses sought the Lord for wisdom on how to handle the situation. The Lord instructed him to speak to the rock and water would flow. This would be a sign that God was still in control, that Moses was still the leader, and that God was their provider.


When it came time to speak to the rock, Moses' disgust with the people became so great that instead of speaking to the rock, he angrily addressed the people and then struck the rock twice. The water came out, in spite of Moses' disobedience. But the Lord was not pleased with Moses.


This was a time for Moses to operate at a higher level. No longer was he called to touch things with his staff to perform miracles; it was a time for him to speak to the problem. His very words would have changed the situation. Moses' staff represented two things-his physical work as a shepherd of sheep and his spiritual work as a shepherd of the people. God was calling him to move into a new dimension of using his staff. Up to now, Moses had always been commanded by God to touch something to perform the miracle. Now it was time to speak God's word to the problem.


However, Moses made the mistake many of us make. He used his instrument with force to accomplish something for God. He took something God wanted to be used in a righteous manner and used it in an unrighteous manner. He used force to solve the problem. This disobedience cost Moses his right to see the Promised Land.
Have you ever been tempted to use your power, skill, and ability to force a situation to happen, perhaps even out of anger? God is calling us to use prayer to move the face of mountains. The force of our ability is not satisfactory. God is calling each of us to a new dimension of walking with Him. Pray that God will give you the grace to wait on Him and not take matters into your own hands. Then you will not be in jeopardy of failing to move into the Promised Land in your life.

December 27, 2010

Ministry in Word

Two Elderly Faithful
两位信实的老人


Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his  arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in
the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
在耶路撒冷有一个人,名叫西面;这人又公义又虔诚,素常盼望以色列的安慰者
来到,又有圣灵在他身上。他得了圣灵的启示,知道自己未死以前,必看见主所
立的基督。他受了圣灵的感动,进入圣殿,正遇见耶稣的父母抱着孩子进来,要
照律法的规矩办理。西面就用手接过他来,称颂神说:主阿!如今可以照你的
话,释放仆人安然去世;因为我的眼睛已经看见你的救恩─就是你在万民面前所
预备的:是照亮外邦人的光,又是你民以色列的荣耀。
孩子的父母因这论耶稣的话就希奇。西面给他们祝福,又对孩子的母亲马利亚
说:这孩子被立,是要叫以色列中许多人跌倒,许多人兴起;又要作毁谤的话
柄,叫许多人心里的意念显露出来;你自己的心也要被刀刺透。
又有女先知,名叫亚拿,是亚设支派法内力的女儿,年纪已经老迈,从作童女出
嫁的时候,同丈夫住了七年就寡居了,现在已经八十四岁,并不离开圣殿,禁食
祈求,昼夜事奉神。正当那时,他进前来称谢神,将孩子的事对一切盼望耶路撒
冷得救赎的人讲说。

Luke 2:25-38
路加2:25-38
It was after the first Christmas that these two rarely spoken of characters appeared in the Gospel of Luke. They were two very old persons living a life secluded from the world but connected intimately with the Lord. They were both finishing well in their walk with God, being in steps with the Spirit, and they encountered Christ Jesus. Let's look at some characteristics of Simeon and Anna’s life and their encounters with the Christ Child.
那是在第一个圣诞後这两位很少被提及的角色出现在路加福音中。他们是两位年
纪老迈的人过着与世分隔但又与主密切的生活。他们在与神同行中正完美地与灵
同步结束,而他们与基督耶稣相遇。让我们察看西缅和亚拿生命的一些特色和他
们与孩童基督的相遇。


SIMEON WAITING FOR THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL
西缅盼望以色列的安慰者


The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon, thereby he received a revelation that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. He had been living in the faith in this revelation since and had been patiently waiting for the promised encounter with Christ. – Do we wait patiently for God to fulfill His promises to us? Simeon waited patiently for the first coming of Christ; do we wait patiently for His second coming?
圣灵在西缅身上,藉此他得到启示知道自己未死以前,必看见主所立的基督。从
此他一直生活在此启示的信心中,和耐心地等候所应许与基督的相逢。-- 我们是否
耐心地等候神来实现他对我们的应许呢?西缅耐心地等候基督的初临;我们是否
耐心地等候他的再临呢?


Simeon was obedient to the leadership of the Spirit, coming into the temple at that particular moment not knowing what to expect. That was when Mary and Joseph brought in the baby Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law. Simeon submitted to God’s guidance without question or hesitation. – Do we question God’s instruction for us or do we act on it immediately? Are we willing to be led by the Spirit?
西缅服从圣灵的带领,在那一时刻进入殿中,仍不知道是什麽一回事。那时马利
亚和约瑟抱着孩子耶稣进来,要照律法的规矩办理。西缅顺服神的指引,并无疑
问或犹豫。-- 我们是否质疑神给我们的指示,抑或会马上执行呢?我们是否愿意接
受圣灵的带领?

Simeon was content with the Spirit’s promise. He took the Christ child up in his arms and blessed God. He said, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.” His sole purpose of living was satisfied. – What is the purpose of our life? Do we live for God or live for ourselves?
西缅满足于圣灵的应许。他就用手接过孩童基督来,称颂神说:「主阿!如今可
以照你的话,释放仆人安然去世。」他活在世上的唯一目的已达到了。-- 我们活着
的目的是什麽呢?我们为神而活抑或为我们自己而活呢?

Simeon was in tune with the Spirit, he recognized the work of Christ was to be the salvation of mankind, Jews and Gentiles included. – Is our spirit aligned with the Spirit? Do we recognize the work of Christ’s Spirit in us and others?
西缅是与圣灵一致,他认出基督的工作是要成为世人的拯救,包括犹太人与外邦
人。-- 我们的灵是否与圣灵调整一致呢?我们能否认出基督的灵在我们和别人身上
的工作呢?

Simeon was a tool of the Spirit to bless Mary and Joseph, speaking words of prophecy about the Christ Child and encouragement to His earthly parents. – Are we an instrument of God to participate in His work?
西缅是圣灵的工具来祝福马利亚和约瑟,向他们预言关乎孩童基督的事和鼓励他
地上的父母的话。-- 我们是否神的器皿来参与他的工作?


ANNA WORSHIPING DAY AND NIGHT, PRAYING AND FASTING
亚拿禁食祈求,昼夜事奉神


Anna lived a Spirit led life in spite of her unfortunate circumstance. Unlike Simeon, Anna did not know she would see Christ in her life time. But she must have prayed for God’s salvation constantly, and she lived with the expectation of her prayers to be answered.
虽然她有不幸的遭遇,亚拿过着一个圣灵所带领的生活。不像西缅,亚拿并不知
道她会在她有生之年见到基督。但她一定是不断地为神的拯救祈求,而她经常带
着她的祷告得应允的盼望。

Anna lived a faithful life dedicated to God. She never left the temple, but worshiped Him by prayer and fasting. She was very much devoted to and focused on the Lord. – Do we devote our life faithfully to God?
亚拿过一个献给神的忠心生活。她从不离开圣殿,以祷告和禁食来敬拜他。她非
常认真献身与主和注目在主身上。-- 我们是否忠心地向神献身呢?


Anna was content to be in the role God wanted her to be, a widow and a little known prophetess. For 84 years she was serving God in the power of His Spirit. This was the secret of the longevity of her service. – Are we content with where God has placed us? Are we serving God in His power or in our power?
亚拿满足于神要她当的角色,就是当寡妇与女先知。八十四年来她以神的灵的力
量来事奉神。这就是她服事能长久的秘密。-- 我们是否满足于神放置我们的位置
呢?我们事奉神是凭他的力量抑或我们的力量呢?


Anna was sanctified by the Spirit, without harboring any bitterness on her 7 short years of marriage and lengthy widowhood, but looking to the Lord for consolation. She saw Christ because her heart was kept pure by the Spirit. – Are we looking at our circumstances or looking at our Lord? Are we seeking solution from our Lord?
亚拿被圣灵分别为圣,没有为她短短七年的婚姻及悠长的寡妇生活留下任何苦
毒,而是向主求安慰。因为圣灵保守她的清心她看到基督。-- 我们把目光放在我们
的处境上抑或在我们的主身上?我们是否向主求解决困难的方法?


Anna dedicated her only resource to the Lord. She spent all her time praying and fasting. She must have been praying fervently for the coming of the Messiah and the salvation of the people. – Do we give to the Lord out of our surplus or out of our lack? Do we dedicate our resources to the Lord?
亚拿献她唯一的资源给主,她用她所有的时间去祷告和禁食。她一定很热切为救
主的降临和世人的拯救祈求。-- 我们是从我们所剩余中奉献给主抑或从我们的不足
中奉献给主?我们是否奉献我们的资源给主?


Anna was guided by the Spirit to come up to the Christ Child at the right moment, and she immediately recognized the Christ Child as the answer to her prayers, and she gave thanks to God. – Do we keep our eyes open for God’s answers to our prayers? Do we thank God for the answered prayers regardless of whether they are what we expected?
亚拿被圣灵引导在正好的时刻来到孩童基督面前,她马上认为孩童基督是神应允
她的祷告并且感谢神。-- 我们是否留心注意神对我们祷告的回应?我们是否感谢神
回应我们的祷告,不管它是否如我们所望的?


Anna readily shared about the Christ Child with others. She must have had some
revelations by the Spirit about Jesus, and she fulfilled her role as a prophetess to tell “all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” – Have we known Christ? Do we share Christ with others?
亚拿准备好来与别人分享孩童基督。她一定得到圣灵一些关乎耶稣的启示,而她
履行她女先知的角色「将孩子的事对一切盼望耶路撒冷得救赎的人讲说。」-- 我们
已经认识基督吗?我们与别人分享基督吗?


PONDER AND LISTEN
思量和聆听
During this Christmas season, let’s ponder upon these characteristics of Simeon and Anna’s life and allow the Spirit speak to us personally.
在这个圣诞的时候,让我们思考西缅和亚拿生活的特色和让圣灵亲自向我们说
话。


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

December 22, 2010

Joyful Beings

 

Joy is the product of something - “because of the joy before Him” as stated in Hebrews and yesterday, “Because of our partnership”

Joy causes us to thank God – and we are doing it in remembrance or as a memorial to what we are thankful for. We must be thankful for what stimulates us to come before God; however we must not place whatever it is “before” our praise to Him for blessing us with it. It is only because of God’s Love, the Sons sacrifice and the Holy Spirits indwelling each of us that we are able to be a blessing to each other.

We must always remember that…..which will bring us joy….which will cause us to lift up our hearts, our eyes and our hands every time with an outpouring of exuberance before Him – which will cause Him to be ever mindful ……which will (you get the picture =D)

Every time we read or hear about “joy” there is a “PAR…TY”. The word itself is fairly ordinary.

Only God can multiply our human emotions to the point of joy – righteous joy. Other joy is fleeting, temporal as stated from the sorrowful memories recorded in Ecclesiastes “vanity of vanities” and “striving after the wind” is human emotions or lust caused joy. This is the polar opposite of the joy we were speaking of yesterday. Ecclesiastes states “There is no remembrance of earlier things and also of the later things which will occur, there will be for them no remembrance among those who will come later still. In Song of Solomon – or Song of Songs, the author knew this joy we were speaking of yesterday. If it was King Solomon it must have been dreadful as he traveled the winding road of memories from Song of Solomon to his out pouring of Ecclesiastes.

Hebrews 12:2 Jesus “saw” the joy that was ahead of him so that he could endure. In my opinion, this is not literally Christ with supernatural vision; seeing His throne empty and waiting for Him next to God. It makes more sense to me that He was using the creative part of himself to visualize in faith, causing a vividly real picture in his mind, propelling his emotions into belief that it was real; which catapulted this power to kick it to the finish line. He was remembering…He was going home – He had a choice. He could have stayed here and not go through the pain it took to get home. But He knew home and nothing was going to stop Him. That is the only way we can do it…..it has to be “because” of something. And the only thing it can be is Love. All else is vanity of vanities and chasing after the wind.

I pray that today you have that outpouring for another and that “the cause is Love”; so that in time they will have a remembrance of earlier things and also of the later things which will occur. Then in time there will be a remembrance among those who will come still later.

Don’t you know right now God is so joyful as He is seeing us remember this as a memorial to His Love for us –

In Remembrance of Christ,

Kisses,

Candace

By the way, I titled this Joyful Beings is in honor of the gifted individuals blessing us as advisors. I continually lift them up with prayers of thanksgiving for serving Kaleidoscope Butterfly’s community and in their own work.    Dr. Ric Chambers owner of Better Way Counseling Services as well as founder of Joyful Being.  Tehwan Tso who I know you are familiar with from she and Tom’s weekly devotion Ministry in Word.  Her web site is www.joyousbrush.com.  Hazel Bernez a licensed Health Coach writes or contributes information within our Health articles and programs and Traci Daly who is a Licensed Instructor of Aesthetics and the Director of Aesthetics Atlanta Institute of Aesthetics is continually increasing our efforts and abilities in a large way.  

I recommend these individuals with the highest of regard.  If you need wisdom, compassion, guidance, services or instruction they will not disappoint you, or Him. 

Look to the left for the links to their web sites.

December 21, 2010

Thank God For The Memories!

 

Memories lead to joy when we think of the people along the highway of our lives whom at different points we were in agreement with. If only for short stretches there was camaraderie between us.

If your experiences are anything like mine, you have found that when you and your compadres get together there can be quite a bit of ambiguity. There have been times when memories are so far off that even the antagonist and protagonist have been altered.

In Philippians 1:3-7 Paul writes a letter to his comrades: I thank God for all the memories I have of you. Every time I pray for all of you, I do it with joy. I can do this because of the partnership we’ve had with you in the Good News from the first day, you believed until now. I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. You have a special place in my heart. So it’s right for me to think this way about all of you. All of you are my partners together we share God’s favor, whether I’m in prison or defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.

When agreement is in the Good News there will not be sorrow to follow. We will have hope due to God’s promises and His favor which as His body we share in. It IS good new indeed to know that God is growing us from glory to glory to glory since the day we were saved.

I will close today with Philippians 2:1-5 and a prayer that we pour our lives out as a part of the sacrifice and service we offer to God for each other’s faith – and that we be filled with joy and share it with each other so that we can be a wonderful witness of the living body of Christ.

(GWT) So then, as Christians, do you have any encouragement? Do you have any comfort from love? Do you have any spiritual relationships? Do you have any sympathy and compassion? Then fill me with joy by having the same attitude and the same love, living in harmony, and keeping on purpose in mind. Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves. Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Amen,

Candace

Ps – Sorry if I ever acted like that to any of you. I hope you forgive me and give me a second shot as a character in your sequel =D

December 18, 2010

Taking One For The Team

We jokingly state that there are the teams of “Yours”, “Mine” an”Theirs”, “Us” and “Them”.  But the reality is there are only two teams:  “All His” and “Those Not Wanting To Be On His”. 

The difference between these two teams is those of us on “All His” are not interested in taking anything from “Those Not Wanting To Be On His”.  We are looking for every opportunity to give to them or into their lives.  Or at least that is what we should be doing. 

Just yesterday some of the women and I were talking about this very subject.  If the thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy he can only be successful if we want to hold onto something.  Our life cannot be taken if we are willing to give it up.  That’s one for “All His” team.  Nothing can be stolen from us if we are willing to give what we have to another; another for “All His”.  What can destroy the power of this….? Nothing! 

In John 5:30 Christ said:I can do nothing on My own initiative As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  

Then later in John 10:10 is where Christ stated the statement about the thief which he concluded with “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”.

I like what the message translation for understanding this”

1 Timothy 2:3-5 (The Message)

Simple Faith and Plain Truth
1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

4-7He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned: that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.

I pray that we keep our team goal in check so that we can stay in play and not be benched.   He wants all, every one.. even those thinking they are wanted by a team to be alive and well beyond this life we see.  And I know that the power that raised Christ to HIs eternal place and gave Him the wisdom to encourage us that we would do even greater things than Him will teach, guide and grow us in all ways,

With Christ love covering us all,

Candace

Today I will close with Os Hillmans devotion to bring it close and personal. 

 

Betrayals
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend. - Psalm 55:12-13


"You will always be attacked in the place of your inheritance," said the man sitting across the breakfast table. "God has called you to bring people together and to impact other people's lives as a result of this anointing in your life. You must make sure that you seek to maintain righteousness in all of your relationships." Those words came from someone who had the wisdom and authority to speak them to me.


I have had a number of close relationships that ended in betrayal. I am very loyal to my friends and those with whom I have covenant relationships. Yet there are times that no matter how righteous you are, when someone means to betray you, he will do it. Loving those who betray you is "graduate-level Christianity." The religious community and one of His closest friends betrayed Jesus. Those who were closest to David betrayed him. Joseph's own family betrayed him. Loving our enemies cannot be accomplished by mustering it up. It can only happen when we have come to a death in ourselves so that Christ can love through us. It is truly one of those acts of identifying with the cross.
If you are a leader, you can be sure God will allow you to experience betrayal. It is one of those courses in the Kingdom that may not be required until God has seen that you have successfully passed other tests. It is the most difficult and most gut wrenching of all tests. A godly response goes against all that is in us. Our natural response is to protect, retaliate, and retain unforgiveness and bitterness. Our natural response is satan's most powerful weapon; to overcome it requires much grace from God. Ask God to build His nature in you now so that when such attacks come, you will be aware that it is a test and you will respond in righteousness.

December 17, 2010

Ministry in Word

The Greatest Prophecy

最大的预言


For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
因有一婴孩为我们而生;有一子赐给我们。政权必担在他的肩头上;他名称为奇妙策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君。
Isaiah 9:6
以赛亚书9:6


A Messianic Prophecy

一个弥赛亚的预言


Prophet Isaiah prophesied of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, into human history as a man years before it actually happened. This simple verse contains a great deal of blessings about Christ’s mission in the world.
在它实际上发生的许多年之前,先知以赛亚预言了弥赛亚,就是耶稣基督的来
临,他成为一个人进入了人类历史。 这简单的一节圣经包含关于基督在世上的使
命的很多祝福。

A Child and A Son

一婴孩一子


Our Messiah was born into this world as a baby, having a human beginning though he existed before the world was created. He is eternal so he has no divine beginning and ending. He is the one and only Son of God the Father, given out of God’s love for the world so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but has eternal life (Jn 3:16). He was given to us to take on the flesh and blood of man and to atone for our sin on the cross as the only sinless, perfectly righteous among men ever walked and will walk on earth.
For us He laid down His life and took it up again, victorious over death, the wage of sin, so that we may also be freed from the sting of death (1 Cor 15:54-55).
我们的救主出生成为婴孩进入这个世界,有人性的起点,虽然他在世界被创造之
前就存在了。 他是永恒的,因此他没有神性的起点和结尾。 他是父神的仅有儿
子,因为神爱世人所以赐他给我们,使一切相信他的人不致灭亡,反得永生(约
3:16)。 他被赐给我们来成为人的血肉之躯和作为在世人之中自古至终唯一无罪,
完全公义的人在十字架上赎我们的罪。他为我们放下了他的生命而再拿它回来,
战胜死亡,就是罪的工价,让我们也能从死亡的毒钩被释放(林前15:54-55)。

His Government

他的政权


He came, He saw, He conquered. He came into this sinful, dark world as a humble infant, to identify with our human weakness. He saw the pain and suffering in this world as an itinerant teacher, to shine His light into wherever received Him. As the Messiah He conquered death after offering Himself as a perfect sacrifice on the cross to redeem  mankind from the penalty of their sin. He ascended to heaven but is ruling as king in the hearts of those who belong to Him. He will return one day when all the knees shall bow and all the mouths shall confess that He is Lord (Php 2:10-11). He rules His kingdom in
love with perfect justice to bring out everyone’s best. He shoulders His government as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
他来了,他看见了,他征服了。作为一个卑微的婴儿他进入这个有罪,黑暗的世
界,认同我们人的软弱。作为一位巡回教师他看见了这个世界的痛苦和灾难,光
照接受他的地方。 作为救主他以献上自己作为十字架上完善的祭,来从人类罪的
惩罚中赎回他们,他征服了死亡。 他升天了,但他在属于他那些人的心中作王。
有一天他将要回来,那时万膝将跪拜,并且万口要承认他是主(腓 2:10-11)。 他以
爱与完善的正义统治他的国度,带出众人最好的一面。作为奇妙策士、全能的
神、永在的父、和平的君,他担负他的政杈。


 

Wonderful Counselor

奇妙策士


He is called Wonderful Counselor because He is the one who guides us with the wisest advice regarding life. This is because His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways higher than our ways (Is 55:9). He is also called Wonderful because of His ability to work wonders and do what is marvelous and astounding in the eyes of man. But the most wonderful and unbelievable thing He had done is that while we were still sinners He died for us, thus demonstrating His love for us (Ro 5:8). He is called Counselor because
He is our advocate, standing at the right hand of God, doing the wonderful thing of interceding for us (Ro 8:34) and arousing the lost soul in its deadness into a new life.
他被祢为奇妙策士,因为他是以最明智的,关于生命的忠告引导我们的人。 这是
因为他的意念高过我们的意念,他的道路高过我们的道路(赛55:9)。 他也称为奇
妙,是由于他能做非常奇妙的事情和能做不可思议与在人眼中令人震惊之事。 但
是他做了的最美妙和最难以相信的事,就是当我们仍然是罪人时他为我们死,因
而显出他对我们的爱(罗5:8)。他称为策士,因为他是我们的律师,站在神右边做
美妙的事,就是为我们代求(罗 8:34)和激起毫无生气的失落灵魂来得到新生命。
Mighty God
全能的神


Nothing is impossible with God (Lk 1:37). Christ is powerful for He is God. He is not a man who had become god, but He is God Almighty. He is the mighty God who is coeternal with the Father (Jn 1:1) and who made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Php 2:7). He is the mighty God who is the author of faith that is like a mustard seed yet with it we can cast aside mountains in our life(Mt 17:20). He is the mighty God, capable of blessing us with wonderful things in our life, first of which is our salvation.
在神没有难成的事(路1:37)。 基督是大有能力的因为他是神。 他不是一个人成为
神,而是他是万能的神。 他是与父神同为永恒之大有能力的神(约1:1),而他反倒
虚己,取了奴仆的形像,成为人的样式(腓2:7)。 他是像芥菜种籽的信心之源头,
有了这信心我们可以迁移我们生命中的山(太17:20),因他是大有能力的神。 他是
大有能力的神,有能力来祝福我们让我们生命中有美妙的事,首先就是我们的得
救。

Everlasting Father

永在的父


Christ our Lord is forever with the heart of His loving Father who is always waiting for us to repent and return to Him. Christ was, is, and will be with the Father, yet He once dwelled among us and now His Spirit dwells in us (Jn 1:1-4, 14). He cares for and loves us like a father, with our best interest in His mind. He is the everlasting God, willing and capable of blessing us with wonderful things in our life.
基督我们的主永远是带着等待我们悔改和回到他那里的慈爱天父的心。 基督以前
是,现在是和以后是与天父同在,而他曾经住在我们当中,现在他的灵在我们之
中居住(约1:1-4, 14)。 他像一个父亲地关心和爱我们,以我们的最大的好处为念。 他是永恒的神,愿意和有能力赐福给我们,使我们在生命中有美妙的事。

Prince of Peace

和平的君

Christ is the Prince of Peace who brings true peace between God and men. He, as our Messiah who brings not truce only but restoration of relationships, had dealt with the cause of hostilities between God and men and among men which is sin. For all who received Him as their personal Savior, this peace has entered their life (Ro 5:1). Christ is the Prince of Peace, not only willing and capable of blessing us with wonderful things in our life, but actually acted on His willingness and capability to bless us with the inner peace in this tumultuous world.
基督是带来在神和人之间的真和平的和平的君。作为我们的救主,他不是在我们
关系上只带来停战而是带来恢复,解决了在神与人和在人与人之间敌意的起因,
就是罪。 对于接受他作为他们个人救主的所有人,这和平进入了他们的生命(罗
:1)。 基督是和平的君,不仅愿意和有能力赐福给我们使我们的生命中有美妙的
事,更实践他的自愿和能力来保佑我们在这个喧嚣的世界中有内在的平安。


 

A Prophecy Fulfilled

已成就了的预言


Christ is the Prince of Peace so our relationship with God may be set right and secure through Him. He is our loving Father who always has our best interest in mind. He is mighty so what is in His mind will come to pass. He gives the best advice so we can have the greatest hope in Him.
基督是和平的君,因此我们与神的关系可以通过他使其正确和巩固。 他是心中为
我们着想的慈爱天父。 他是如此大有能力的在他心里想像的都必实现。 他给我们
最好的忠告,因此我们可以在他里面有最大的希望。


On the first Christmas the Christ Child was born to Mary the virgin in Bethlehem, thereby fulfilling this messianic prophecy. Today and everyday since the first Easter the risen Christ has knocked at the door to our hearts asking to enter. Whoever open the door and invite Jesus into their life will have the blessings from our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
在第一个圣诞节孩童基督在伯利恒从童女马利亚出生,从而实现了这救世主的预
言。 今天和自从第一个复活节的每天,复活的基督在敲我们的心门要求进入。谁
打开心门并且邀请耶稣进入他们的生命将有从我们奇妙策士、全能的神、永在的
父与和平的君的祝福。


Won’t you invite Jesus into your heart today?
今天你难道不要邀请耶稣进入你的心吗?

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

December 10, 2010

Anemic Faith–by Os Hillman

"For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith" (Heb 4:2-3).

I run into anemic Christians everyday. They have a form of religion but fail to mix their belief with faith and obedience. The apostle Paul described them when he said "these people have a form of godliness but deny its power."

What are the telltale signs of anemic faith? When you no longer pray about decisions, you have anemic faith. When you fail to speak to others about their relationship with God, you have anemic faith. When you're unwilling to spend time with God everyday, your faith has become anemic. You no longer have a living faith.

God spoke to John, the apostle, through a vision and told him about some Christians who were part of the church in Laodicea:

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see" (Rev 3:14-18).

These are strong words from our Lord. We are all susceptible to growing cold and anemic in our faith. Today, ask God to revive your heart and to restore the fire of your faith so that you will experience a vibrant and active faith that impacts the kingdom of darkness.

December 9, 2010

Ministry in Word

Similar Revelations, Different Responses
类似的启示,不同的回应


Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
有主的使者站在香坛的右边,向他显现。撒迦利亚看见,就惊慌害怕。天使对他
说:撒迦利亚,不要害怕,因为你的祈祷已经被听见了。你的妻子以利沙伯要给
你生一个儿子,你要给他起名叫约翰。


Luke 1:11-13
路加1:11-13


Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”
撒迦利亚对天使说:我凭着甚麽可知道这事呢?我已经老了,我的妻子也年纪老
迈了。天使回答说:我是站在神面前的加百列,奉差而来对你说话,将这好信息
报给你。到了时候,这话必然应验;只因你不信,你必哑吧,不能说话,直到这
事成就的日子。


Luke 1:18-20
路加1:18-20


The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a  son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will
come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
童女的名字叫马利亚;天使进去,对他说:蒙大恩的女子,我问你安,主和你同
在了!马利亚因这话就很惊慌,又反复思想这样问安是甚麽意思。天使对他说:
马利亚,不要怕!你在神面前已经蒙恩了。你要怀孕生子,可以给他起名叫耶
稣。他要为大,称为至高者的儿子;主神要把他祖大卫的位给他。他要作雅各家
的王,直到永远;他的国也没有穷尽。马利亚对天使说:我没有出嫁,怎麽有这
事呢?天使回答说:圣灵要临到你身上,至高者的能力要荫庇你,因此所要生的
圣者必称为神的儿子。况且你的亲戚以利沙伯,在年老的时候也怀了男胎,就是
那素来称为不生育的,现在有孕六个月了。因为,出於神的话,没有一句不带能
力的。马利亚说:我是主的使女,情愿照你的话成就在我身上。天使就离开他去
了。


Luke 1:27-38
路加1:27-38


SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
类似与分别


From Luke’s accounts of God’s revelations to Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father and to Mary, Jesus’ mother, we can learn a valuable lesson on faith.
从路加所记载神对施浸约翰的父亲的启示和对耶稣的母亲马利亚的启示之中我们
可以学习到信心的宝贵功课。


In these accounts we find similarities in their contents: these revelations were both messages brought by the archangel Gabriel and they were both concerning the coming birth of their baby boys. In the case of Zechariah it was apparently something that he and his wife had prayed for. We know this because the angel told Zechariah that his prayer had been heard (Luke 1:13) before he revealed to Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth would bear him a son. In the case of Mary, this was a total surprise because she was a virgin (Luke 1:34).
在这些记载中我们找到它们内容中类似的地方:这些启示都是由天使长加百列带
来的信息,而它们都是关乎他们男婴的诞生。在撒迦利亚那方面这明显地是他与
他妻子所祈求的,我们知道这事实因为天使在向撒迦利亚透露他的妻子伊利沙伯
会为他生一个儿子之先,就告诉他他的祈祷已经被听见了〔路加1:13〕。在马利
亚这方面这是一个完全出人意料的消息因为她仍是童女〔路加1:34〕。

Another similarity is in their reaction to these events: they were both afraid upon meeting Gabriel (Luke 1:12, 29). But there was one subtle difference in their fear: Zechariah was afraid of the angel while Mary was troubled at his words of greeting. In other words Zechariah was self-focused and was concerned of his own security while Mary was God focused and was concerned with the meaning and purpose of this encounter.
另外一个相似之处就是他们对这些事的反应:他们在见到加百列时同样害怕。但
他们的害怕却有一个微妙的分别:撒迦利亚是害怕天使而马利亚却是被他问安的
话所困扰。换句话说撒迦利亚是把目光放在自己身上,关心他自己的安危,而马
利亚把目光放在神身上,她关心这次遭遇的意义和用意。


On the surface there is also a similarity in Zechariah and Mary’s reaction to Gabriel’s message, they both said that what was going to happen to them was not possible. Zechariah gave the reason that he and his wife Elizabeth had well passed the child bearing age, while Mary stated that she could not have a baby because she was a virgin.
表面上撒迦利亚和马利亚对加百列的信息的反应也有相似之处,他们都说快要发
生在他们身上的事是不可能的。撒迦利亚的理由是因为他和他妻子伊利沙伯都已
过了生育孩子的年龄,而马利亚则说她不可能生孩子因为她仍是处女之身。


However deep down Zechariah questioned the validity and truthfulness of Gabriel’s message, saying, “How can I be sure of this?” To this Gabriel answered that Zechariah could be sure because he was the archangel Gabriel who stood in the presence of God, and he had been sent to speak to him and to tell him that good news. In other words Gabriel was saying that his message was valid and truthful because he had access to God. Not only that, it was God Himself who sent Gabriel to Zechariah to tell him the good news that his prayer for having a child of their own was answered. Now good news is worth repeating and spreading, however, Zechariah, in his unbelief, would not be able to speak words worthy of this good news, so he was silenced and his speaking ability removed until his son John was born and he confirmed in agreement with God and his wife that his son’s name would be John (Luke 1:59-64).
不过,撒迦利亚实在是质疑加百列的信息的确实性,他说,「我凭着甚麽可知道
这事呢?」加百列回答说撒迦利亚可肯定这事因为他是站在神面前的加百列,奉
差而来对他说话,将这好信息报给他。换句话说,加百列说他的信息是准确真实
的因为他可到神那里去接近神。不单如此,是神自己差加百列去告诉撒迦利亚好
消息,就是他盼望得到自己的孩子的祷告已蒙应允。好消息都是值得重覆和传开
的,不过在他的不信中撒迦利亚说不出配得这好消息的话来,所以他成了哑吧,
失去说话的能力,直到他的儿子约翰出生和他同意神与他妻子,确认他儿子的名
字是约翰的时候为止〔路加1:59-64〕。


On the other hand Mary, although bewildered by the announcement of her forthcoming pregnancy as a virgin, accepted Gabriel’s explanation of this miracle by faith. Immediately she submitted to God’s plan for her life, declaring herself the Lord’s servant (Luke 1:38). She trusted that “nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
另一方面,马利亚虽然被她快要处女怀孕的宣告所困扰,却凭信心接受加百列对
这神迹的解释。她马上顺服在神对她生命的计划,宣称自己是主的使女〔路加
1:38〕。她相信「出於神的话,没有一句不带能力的」〔路加1:37〕。


THE MIRACLE OF JESUS
耶稣这个神迹


We can also have the miracle of Jesus in our life.
我们也可以有耶稣这个神迹在我们生命中。


If you feel lost, needing guidance in life, God is saying to you that like Mary you could have the miracle of Jesus in you and gain “the way”, because Jesus said, “I am the way” (Jn 14:6). By letting Jesus be the pilot of your life, you will gain a sense of direction even in the most difficult circumstance.
如果你感到失落,生命中需要指引,神在告诉你就如马利亚你可以有耶稣的神迹
在你里面而得到「道路」,因为耶稣说,「我就是道路」〔约14:6〕。让耶稣作
为你生命中的导航员,什至在最困难的环境中你会得到一个方向感。


If you are confused, needing understanding in life, God is saying to you that like Mary you could have the miracle of Jesus in you and gain “the truth”, because Jesus said, “I am the truth” (Jn 14:6). By letting Jesus be the foundation and cornerstone of your life, you will have a dependable standard to use as reference to deal with most perplexing situation.
如果你感到迷茫,生命中需要了解,神在告诉你就如马利亚你可以有耶稣的神迹
在你里面而得到「真理」,因为耶稣说,「我就是真理」〔约14:6〕。让耶稣作
为你生命中的基础和房角石,什至在最迷惑的处境中你会有一个可靠的标准作参
考。


If you are discouraged, needing support in life, God is saying to you that like Mary you could have the miracle of Jesus in you and gain “the life”, because Jesus said, “I am the life” (Jn 14:6). By letting Jesus be the stream of living water in your life, you will constantly be nourished and encouraged by God’s grace in the most serious drought in your spiritual life.
如果你感到沮丧,生命中需要支持,神在告诉你就如马利亚你可以有耶稣的神迹
在你里面而得到「生命」,因为耶稣说,「我就是生命」〔约14:6〕。让耶稣作
为你生命中的活水泉源,什至在你灵命中最严重的干旱中你会得到神的恩惠的滋
润和鼓励。


God had a plan to use Zechariah and Mary to bring out His purpose for the world. How they responded affected the level of blessing they received in their life. In spite of Zechariah’s initial unbelief, God continued to carry out His work. It is up to Zechariah to finally gain the right perspective and to participate in God’s work. Let us be like Mary, seeing the possibility of God’s plan for our life, and submit ourselves to Him as the Lord’s servants, saying, “May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).
神有计划来用撒迦利亚和马利亚来成就他对世界的用心,他们如何回应影响他们
生命中得到的福气程度。尽管撒迦利亚最初的疑惑,神继续执行他的工作。撒迦
利亚最后须要得到正确的观点和参加神的工作。 让我们学习马利亚,看到神的计
划在我们的生活的可能性,并且自己顺服作主的仆人,说,「情愿照你的话成就
在我身上」〔路加1:38〕。


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

December 7, 2010

Twinkle..Twinkle

 

Twinkle, twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky………

We wish and wish and sometime even “prayerfully wish” until we realize there is a higher force with the capacity to propel us. And that is hope. Hope is not realized when we can touch what we see. Hopes job is over when we have obtained. True Vision is where the pieces collectively come together and build within our heart and mind. Creating with clarity all details in order for us to be aware when we are in the presence of what we hoped for. Hope is the fuel or catalyst of perseverance.

Think about it……

Evidence of things hoped for…….How will they know if they have not been told

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Galatian 4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again.

I love what Erwin McManus wrote in this chapter “Coming our of Nowhere” in Stand Against the Wind.

clip_image001[6]Romans 12:12 NCV Be joyful because you have hope, Be patient when trouble comes and pray at all times.

 

 

The quest for enlightenment leads us to the wisdom of God. Wisdom is forged through the crucible of Perseverance.

If Rome wasn’t build in a day, neither is character formed in one moment. There is a process in our becoming all that God created us to be. This is the human side of divine change. Transformation is both the miracle of God and the stewardship of man. Godliness is a result of both divine activity and human action. God promises to do what we cannot do for ourselves and He commands us to do that which He will not do for us. There is both miracle and responsibility. God entrusts us with His resources, and then He hold us accountable for what we do with them. It isn’t very difficult to see that we are not all the same. Some people seem to have gotten an overload when God was handing out talents; others seem less gifted. But be assured there is divine talent in you. It is both waiting to be unleashed and depending on your being a faithful steward with what you’ve been entrusted. While we may be unable to perceive it, the great things of God come out of the small acts of faithfulness. When He finds we can be trusted with small things, we then are given responsibility over bigger things. How we serve exposes how we would lead.

When we are Faithful, we are Trustworthy. The person who is unfaithful cannot be trusted. These tow characteristics are inseparable.

If a person does not achieve his or her God given potential, although we might consider it a tragedy we would never think of it as wickedness. But perhaps we should. After all, the servant in the parable of the talents was declared wicked when what he could have done was measured against what he did. Matthew 25:14-30

 

So in conclusion for today -

Think of perseverance as the key to the door that is locked before you….holding you back from what is on the other side.

Will you endure the struggle with the lock or will you just say, I can’t open it?

Just any shape key does not open the lock. Perseverance shapes our character….Our character is the shape of our future.

Just as the key has to be the correct shape – we also have to be shaped to fit our future (deep huh!)

If we do not have the correct shape, the lock does not open. Our frame work is the skeleton key. God is the iron worker, we are the iron he is shaping. Each door we come before he has to take time and effort to bend us to perfectly fit.

The same key does not open all doors. Each key, as each door lock, is special….just for us. If all keys and locks were the same, anyone could open our doors and receive the things in our store house.

Are we willing to be molded, bent, heated till He sees Him image reflected upon us? He tells us the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. “The implications of faithfulness cannot be overestimated and must not be underestimated.”

My prayer for us all today is that we will allow Him to painstakingly shape us so that we fit into what must be unlocked so all may come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord….and be shaped to unlock…and so on…and so forth.

Twinkle Twinkle little star

Is there a key to what you are

Up above our world so high

Is your space, your time to fly

Twinkle twinkle little start

How he loves you as you are

My stanza to you all!

Kisses,

Candace

December 6, 2010

Disappointments

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. - Proverbs 13:12
Life is filled with disappointments. Many of God's greatest servants experienced deep disappointment in their journeys of faithfulness to God. Joseph, after spending years as a slave and in jail for crimes that he did not commit, revealed deep disappointment when he was forgotten another two years in prison. John the Baptist, when awaiting execution, doubted whether Jesus was, in fact, the Christ because he was sitting there awaiting his death. Elijah, losing all hope and despondent to the point of death, asked God to take his life in the desert; and Peter, who left his fishing business and invested three years of his life only to watch his Savior crucified, wondered whether the purpose of those three years could be justified.

When life doesn't add up, it leaves the heart sick. When we have done all we know to do and the formula has not worked, it leaves us questioning. These are times that try the very souls of men. There is no human sense to be made of it. We are left with a choice: to cling or not to cling. There are times when holding on to our Master's robe is all that we can do. It is all that He wants us to do.

The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not obtained by sudden flight;
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.
Standing on what too long we bore,
With shoulders bent and downcast eyes,
We may discern-unseen before-
A path to higher destinies!
~Longfellow

There is only one answer to life's disappointments. Like the psalmist, we must "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken" (Ps. 62:5-6).
___________________________________________________________________________

I know for each of us we have lived through many seasons of life.  We have known good times where we had so much joy and peace we felt it could never be snatched away.  However we also have been, or may are right now, in that place where our soul is begging for rest.  It is important to remember that God tells us to receive His promises and gifts.  That takes action by us.  Remember that God tells us to kick the dust from our shoes when we are among those that do not desire to share in the peace we offer and then to "take" our peace with us as we leave.  These are also actions initiated by us.  Christ told many individuals that they were healed by their faith not by rituals done etc.  Again, this is prompted by an action of the individual.

We are constantly reminded of Ephesians 6 with our groups ( go into the archives and or search area and type "stand" for more encouragement).  I prayerthat we all be empowered by His will and that the supernatural presence of His spirit enables our success'. Along with this I am copying Ephesians 6: 14-18 (GWT) this is the action we must take!
With Love,
Candace

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.

December 2, 2010

Ministry in Word

The Mind of God

神的心


Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?
谁曾测度耶和华的心,或作他的谋士指教他呢?他与谁商议,谁教导他,谁将公
平的路指示他,又将知识教训他,将通达的道指教他呢?
Isaiah 40:13-14
以賽亞書40:13-14


I can’t even understand the mind of a genius, so I am not one who can claim to
understand the mind of God. I couldn’t understand my Theoretical Physics professor in college who couldn’t talk very well, but could write out complex equations furiously on the chalk board. Once he told us about a Physics student in India who published a brilliant paper, and he bemoaned the fact that among his students there was none of such caliber.
我什至不能明白一位天才的心,所以我不能说我明白神的心。我不能明白我大学
的理论物理学的教授,他不太能表达但能在黑板很快地写出复杂的方程式。有一
次他对我们提及印度有一位物理学学生发表了一份很棒的论文,而他为他学生中
没有这般水准的而惋惜。


With our limited mind let's make an attempt to see the magnitude of difference between our mind and that of God.
以我们有限的思维让我们试着来发觉我们与神之间思维上的分别。

Absolute Vastness of God’s Mind
神的心绝对廣大


Unlimited capacity to store and retrieve information, unlimited capacity to use all information
无限的容量来储藏和取回资讯,无限的容量来使用全部资讯


We can describe a mind first in terms of its capacity to store and retrieve information. Some people seem to be able to keep a lot of details in their head, allowing them to ponder upon them and organize them as needed. This gives them an advantage of understanding the bigger picture of things. Our God has a vast capacity that can hold in His mind everything all at once, so God’s understanding is perfect and comprehensive.
我们可以先以储藏和取回资讯的容量来形容一个心。有些人似乎能够放很多细节
在脑袋里,让他们可以在需要时思考和整理它们。这给他们了解事情更大局面的
优势。我们的神有廣大的容量可以同时把一切事物存在他心里,所以神的了解是
完美和全面的。


Distraction occurs in human mind when our mental capacity is exhausted and new information arrives and demands our attention, causing us to lose focus on the important things, instead we handle only the urgent things. With God's unlimited capacity to handle information He will not be distracted, but will remain steadfast in carrying out His good purpose to us. That's why God is faithful and changes not even when we are unfaithful and fickle minded.
当新资讯临到我们,需要我们注意的时候,而我们的思维的容量已被用光了,这
就产生了分心的现象,引致我们失去对重要事情的注意力,反而只去处理紧要的
事。因为神有无限的容量去处理资讯,他就不会分心,反而稳重地带出他对我们
的好用心。这就是为什么神是信实不变的,甚至当我们不忠和不坚定的时候。

Therefore God’s idea must be right!
所以神的意念一定是对的!


Absolute Creativeness of God’s Mind
神的心绝对的创作性


Self-generated, original ideas, not depending on others’ thought
自我产生的,仓新的意念,不必靠他人的想法


Secondly we can describe a mind by its creativity, whether it generates original ideas. Technically speaking all human ideas are not original because we have at least learned portions of them from someone else.
其次我们可以以它的仓作性来形容一个心,到底它会不会产生仓新的意念。基本
上所有人的意念都不是仓新的,因为至少它们的一部分是我们从别人那里学来
的。


People in important positions always rely on their advisors. CEO’s have their boards of directors, and the President of the United States of America has his cabinet advising him. Our human minds are limited and we need to put our heads together to come up with better ideas. Yet there is no guarantee that what comes out of this collaboration is the best.
那些身负重任的人常常依靠他们的顾问。总裁有他们的董事会,美国总统有他的
内阁给他资商。我们人的心是有限的,我们须要集中我们的思想来争取较好的主
意。但是不能保证从这个合作出来的主意是最好的。


Not so for God, for His thoughts are so much higher than ours that no one has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed Him as His counselor. His ideas are always self generated. He needs no outside inspiration. He does not need input from others’ thought. When He created the universe and all that were in it, He had His own best design. He needed no consultation with others.
对神来讲就不一样,因为他的意念是这么超越我们的意念,甚至没人曾测度耶和
华的心,或作他的谋士指教他。他的意念都是自我产生的,他不需要外界的灵
感,他不需要别人意见的帮助。当他仓造宇宙与其中之物的时候,他有他自己最
好的设计,他并不需要别人给他资商。


Therefore God’s idea must be the best!
所以神的意念一定是最好的!


Absolute Judgment of God’s Mind
神的心绝对的判断


Always correct perspective of things, always right and best ways to implement ideas
对事情一定有正确的看法,对实行主意一定正确的和一定最好的方法


We sometimes know the fact but not necessarily the truth. For example, a married woman hugging a man who is not her husband may be the fact, but the truth is that the man is her brother. We are limited to our superficial observation and therefore cannot always trust our judgment. However, even when we may have the right perspective and the right ideas, we may not always have the right and the best ways to implement them. A bad approach to carry out the best idea often brings about disastrous result.
有时候我们知到事实却不一定知道真相。比方说,一个有夫之妇拥抱一个不是她
丈夫的男人是事实,但是真相却是那男人是她的哥哥。我们被限制于我们表面的
观察,所以我们的判断不一定可靠。不过,就是我们有正确的看法和正确的意念
,我们可能没有正确的和最好的实行方法。如果用一个不好的方法来执行最好的
主意,常常会带来最恶劣的后果。


However, God needs no teacher to teach him the right way to do things. There was no one else at the beginning of time to teach him how to create the universe. He spoke and things were created perfectly and beautifully out of nothing.
但是,神不须要教师来教他做事最佳的方法。没有别人在时间开始之时教他怎样
仓造宇宙。他说话万物就从无中生有地完美和美好地被仓造了。


Besides, God has a way to cause everything, good or bad, to work together for the good of those who love Him. So His way is the perfect way.
除此以外,神有办法使万事互相效力要让爱他的人得好处。所以他的方法是完美
的方法。


Therefore God’s idea must be perfect!
因此他的意念一定是完美的!


May we trust and obey God’s will for it comes from the absolutely right, absolutely best, and absolutely perfect mind of God.
愿我们信靠顺服神的旨意,因为它是来自神绝对正确,绝对美好和绝对完全的
心。
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

December 1, 2010

There Are Reasons For Times And Seasons

 

Jeremiah 6:16-17This is what the Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look.
   Ask which paths are the old, reliable paths. Ask which way leads to blessings.
      Live that way, and find a resting place for yourselves. But you said that you wouldn’t live that way. I posted watchmen over you. Pay attention to the sound of the ram’s horn. But you said that you wouldn’t pay attention.

Jeremiah 30:18-23“This is what the Lord says: I’m going to bring the captives back to Jacob’s tents  and show compassion on their homes. Cities will be built on the ruins, and fortified palaces will be built in their rightful place. The people who live there will sing songs of praise, and the sound of laughter will be heard from there. I’ll make them numerous, and their number won’t decrease. I’ll bring them honor, and they won’t be considered unimportant.Their children will be like they were long ago. Their community will be established in my presence, and I will punish everyone who oppresses them. Their leader will be someone from their own people. Their ruler will come from among them. I’ll bring him near, and he will come close to me. Who would dare to come near me?” asks the Lord. You will be my people, and I will be your God. The storm of the Lord will come with his anger.  Like a driving wind, it will swirl down on the heads of the wicked.T he Lord’s burning anger will not turn back until he has done everything he intends to do. In the last days you will understand this clearly.

I have read these verses many times.  The first time was during study for a gallery exhibit I was painting.  Being only the second painting I had ever attempted I was trusting God implicitly to show up in thought and ability to communicate His hearts desire.  Now here, years later, I can see the journey that I have been on more clearly.  The scriptures I read were etched in my heart and mind.  I desired to “stand at the crossroads and look around me at the situations at hand.  I chose to lay my ideas and perceptions down for His counsel to guide me so that I see the best path.  Each time I have chosen to do this I have found rest for my soul as well as a strengthened faith and trust to do it the next time and the next time. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 records God’s statement “I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will hear you. When you look for me, you will find me. When you wholeheartedly seek me…

Today I pray that we take time to know that God has a reason for the times we are going through and the seasons just as He did “back in the day”.  His plans are for our good, for completion of restoration.  Have faith…because He is faithful to complete his plans.  We simply have to show up and allow it to be done to us as He desires.

With Love, IN Christ,

Candace