July 31, 2013

A Quiet Effect

Imagine responding to pressure, perplexities, persecution, and destruction with a quiet spirit. To experience quietness and peace is indeed a treasure. Maybe you think of a quiet secluded place is needed to achieve a quiet spirit. But, the Spirit of God also has a quieting effect on the body.

Of course you do not have to respond to God, you can take on your troubles with your own strength if you choose. One of the key ways in which we tend to do this is to claim our problems are someone else’s fault. Talented, well-educated, highly-trained people reason that it’s the other fellow or their circumstances that are at fault. They reason that their reactions, given their situation, are quite normal and natural. After all, aren’t they being mistreated, misunderstood, not appreciated, and rejected? Isn’t it normal to be upset and fight back in order to free yourself from the turmoil within you?

Many say, “Anyone in my shoes would have reacted the way I did. Once I get out of this situation, my natural spirit of goodwill, good humor, friendliness, generosity, and unselfishness will return.”

It is natural for people to become upset in the midst of trouble. Many people have been terribly mistreated since childhood. They have tasted of other people’s selfishness. It is unbelievable how many people are subject to harsh, scornful, vicious, and inconsiderate treatment. Curiously enough, many individuals who have received terrible, shameful treatment in the past will themselves repeat the same treatment, or even worse, toward the people in their lives. They will attack or withdraw from anyone who resembles the past–retaliating, wallowing in self-pity, refusing to forgive. You would think that they would be more considerate and understanding of other people since they know what it is like to suffer from cruelty, harshness, and selfishness. Are they innocent victims of the past and therefore not accountable for their attitudes and conduct?

It is true that a troubled person calms down and is happier when the people and circumstances around him are pleasant. Many reason, therefore, that it is the environment that causes the individual to be upset and to retaliate. They say that man is basically friendly, generous, selfless, and good. These qualities, some say, will be present if the person can find an environment that will allow the qualities to emerge, or if he can be taught to channel any aggressive tendencies into constructive activities.

But we have learned that trouble merely exposes man’s natural tendency to react in an unfriendly, selfish, or bitter way. This basic evil nature is not so obvious when circumstances and the conduct of others are acceptable to an individual.

Help may be found only when people face the truth about themselves and then turn to God for the power to change in the midst of trouble. Their problems won’t disappear; however, their reactions are changed. They soon discover that it is not a problem-free life they need, but a change of heart or to lean more firmly upon the God who has already changed their hearts.

If you want to respond to problems in a quiet way, then put on the clothing furnished by God. The Bible describes it in Colossians 3:12-17:

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering;bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another…put on love…let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

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July 25, 2013

What Does THAT Mean?!?

Have you ever just stopped…..just stopped…..just stopped….yourself on each floor of your emotional up rise?  Chances are, if you would have gotten off on each floor and truly related to those in the lobby you might have had a larger experience.  There is much to be said about a roof top view over the community, but there is a reason for the saying, “It’s lonely at the top!”

Think of the saying, “I feel as though I’m always on the outside.”  Doesn’t it STAND to reason, if you do not move out of the elevator and show an interest in the lives of others that you will not have the same community as all those fellowshipping together?  Think about it:  the door shuts; you only hear pieces of conversations and are left with many holes to fill in and create a full picture.  Of course, having nothing but 4 metal walls surrounding you, your choices of what to do with yourself till your next floor is minimal.   A few choices are to either count along with the numerical display, push buttons, sing along with the lovely music selections, think about what you are going to see…….or most often selected choice – to fill in the storyline of what was perceived in your 5 to 10 second glimpse.

We have been speaking in group about our emotional electrical panels: Disconnecting; short circuiting; repair guys and uninsulated wiring. There are reasons we choose to just ride the elevator and peak quickly into what is going on with others, and then rapidly move on and up.  We must be aware of where we are going BEFORE we step off into creating a “coping” mechanism of avoidance. 

Is the ability to disconnect healthy? Yes but as with all healthy journeys, when a door opens if you are afraid, you have to discern ifit has anything to do with the people in the lobby.  Think the following questions through, we will be discussing it over the next few weeks and revisiting many prior topics:

  • What happens prior to you walking up to an elevator door?
  • Once in, are you in control of the buttons being pushed – or do you just stand in the elevator and pray to move?
  • Do you get annoyed if someone has pushed the wrong button and then they are not even there?
  • If you had time and a door opened, would you have any desire to walk out and explore the hallways?
  • When you get to the top, who will you share the experience with? 

All the floors we pass have real people living real lives.  Sometimes we desire to live a life which only allows people into our little controlled elevator.  When they leave the elevator, they walk down a corridor and through another door.  Beyond that door is their “real” family, their husband, their wife and their children.  In a real life, children leave their home of origin and usually connect with the one person who we / they are to never forsake.  “Why?”, because everyone wants a door called home.  (Things do happen - but that's for another day ;) )

Sometimes people feel too alone to get back on the elevator because they know there is not a higher floor than the one upon which they are currently standing, so why bother.  Other times we stay in the elevator because we do not desire to walk down the halls and into the messy rooms we won’t clean up. 

Whatever floor you are headed to, why don’t you stop the elevator for a moment before you miss out on something that’s real and present.  If your most fulfilling relationships, most joyous moments and those you can’t wait to see have become the people passing throughout your elevator experience, inclusive of the lobby folks then you need to re-evaluate the place you call home.  Don’t end up having a roof top experience with elevator folks being all you have to share it with – they don’t stick around, they are not supposed to; they have a complete life

I pray that God help you understand what this means, today and throughout our sojourn.

Kisses,
Candace

 

©Candace Huffmaster 2013, All Copy Rights Reserved
Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc®

July 22, 2013

I Just Want To Be ALONE!

The awesome thing about the bible is that no matter what view point we seem to be looking from, if we will pause and open it, we will immediately have wise guidance which will give us a much fuller perspective to discern things.

If you do not know where to look, try the book of Mark.  He is much like many of us, enabling his writings to feel much like an old friend walking with us.  Last week, even though I did not post it - we were discussing view points.  This was a refresher from studies a few years ago, but new to many of you.  Click the link above if you were not with us.

Think about the following:

The writer, like Mark are real people.  Things of God do not change, no matter how much time passes.  When we do not, or are not "willing" to relate to someone then there is no commonality.  We do not have to agree in all ways.  However, we do have to be willing to respect the relationship.  This is one large factor we are told several truths about by God's word: 

  • As far as it depends on you, be at peace with everyone.
  • Please God not man.
  • Be above reproach in all of your ways.
  • The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
  • Seek first His kingdom and all else will be added to this.
  • and the biggie...All things are common to man.
Can you relate to those statements?  Can you relate to others even if you do not always see from their perspective?  Can you relate to Mark?  Have you tried?  If you cannot settle yourself for a moment to lay things down with a living person in your midst, give Mark a try?  Just go somewhere and sit with the letters he wrote for you.  Remember, he is your brother.  We have a very hard time laying down petty things and thinking about God's picture of family.  We are all brothers and sisters even now, here in this world once we are saved through Jesus Christ.   

Sometimes, I think about Christ and all he faced.  We are told about the angels which came to him to minister in His time of need.  Many times, I think we might want the angels to come to our aid prior to us giving our all to fight the good fight.  We focus on our own limited strength and do not open up to stand firm on God's word and let it do the fighting for us.  That IS what Christ did.  Each time Satan came at his vulnerability, lustful human nature etc, Christ didn't enter a battle.  He simply spoke what sustains us - the words that proceed from the mouth of God himself.  It sounds so simple, yet our flesh is so incredibly weak when we do not prosper our Spirit - as our soul prospers


We know we are supposed to seek the Kingdom with all our human strength AND the strength he gives us.  Sometimes we forget this and try to go it alone.  This is never a good idea, but we have to be EVER MINDFUL of God in order to detect these things.  1 Corinthians verse 20 and 21 state: Where is the wise person? Where is the scholar? Where is the persuasive speaker of our time? Hasn’t God turned the wisdom of the world into nonsense? The world with its wisdom was unable to recognize God in terms of his own wisdom. So God decided to use the nonsense of the Good News we speak to save those who believe.

I have chosen one verse in particular for each of us to lean on today:

In the morning, long before sunrise, Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray.  Mark 1:35 GW
Just because Christ went away from people doesn't mean he was alone.  Today, get away from people and alone with our Lord God Almighty it will delight the Spirit and be rest for your soul.  I promise! (only because His promises are faithful and true).  I hope you Do relate.

With Love,
Candace

updated 2013 ©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved
Kaleidoscope Butterfly®

July 2, 2013

Abide IN Me

If you abide IN Me.....and.....MY words abide IN you.....ask whatever you wish....and it WILL be done for you.  ~ John 15:7


 I have missed having the time to spend searching the depths of God and listening for what He has to say to each of us.  I thank all of you for your patience, as I worked to help another organization, these past few weeks.

As always, God teaches so much through our experiences.  He has not disappointed me throughout this adventure.  Needless to say, if he supplies the lesson, I will use it to learn, teach and trust that each of us will grow from glory to glory through His graciousness.

Now, back to topic, have you ever sat and thought about the verse above?  Not just the glossed over thought, but the sit down with it, tear it down into definitions and chew on it awhile, kind of thoughts?  Well if not, here is your chance!  If so, please share your wealth with us by commenting or bringing it up in group :)

What does abide fully mean?  If we do not know then we cannot truly wrap our minds around the depths of this scripture, can we? 

Abide in the English language means:
  • to wait for
  • to endure without yielding
  • to bear patiently
  • to accept without objection
  • to remain stable or fixed in a state
  • to continue in a place: sojourn (you know I loved that one!)
Without moving further, may I pose this questions to us all:  Are you waiting in Christ, enduring, patiently while accepting without  objecting that place He has you, remaining stable as you continue to sojourn in your space?  Hmmm  that's a challenge isn't it?  I will be honest enough to say that it challenges me from time to time.....am I alone out here?

As for what the Greek word Meno, which abide was translated from, it is defined as:

  • to remain, to abide, dwell
  • to endure, last
  • to persevere, to stand firm or steadfast
  • to remain alive
  • to wait for
Meno is derived from hypmeno which means to remain under, and to be patient and hupomone which means patience toward things and circumstances.

What is your perspective on things today?  You are looking toward things, circumstances how do you perceive them?  Are you making decisions out of fear or frustration?  Are you attempting to push something which the Lord has in place in order for you to grow through it instead of mustering up the gusto to propel it out of your way to move on?

John 15 - 17 states this:

From now on I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you.

You have not chosen Me.....but I have chosen YOU...and ordained you...(why?) that you should go and bring forth fruit....and that YOUR fruit should remain; that whatever you shall ask of the Father in my name.....He may give it you.  

These things I command you.......that you love one another.

All He desires is for us to feed each other the fruit of His goodness, which He alone will provide up from us when we simply do one thing......look toward others with loving kindness and be gentle toward them, gracious and merciful.

Please consider your own space today - Where are you abiding? Is it peaceful?  It should be no matter what surrounds you.  Go back to Psalm 23 and reflect if it has been too many weeks since we discussed it.

The links below are also on topic if you desire more to process:
And this is the link to the Selah page with my prayer for today:

 ©Candace Huffmaster 2013, All Rights Reserved
Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™