Now THAT Is Something I Can Get Behind!

It is a commonality with us humans that we have a tendency to look at life out from the the view most commonly stamped “the terrible two’s”. At this age parents may stress a bit, however they know it is simply a phase of life and a right of passage.  We have another nifty rubber stamp in our arsenal, which we can slather in dark ink to stamp upon older humans “reverted to terrible two”.  Well I have news for those of us wielding our lofty rubber stamps, God has a couple of stamps of His own and He uses PERMANENT ink! Mine, his

We are sticking with our prior topics and build upon their deeper meanings.  I would like to open with a new truth to anchor us in His mind set….not mans. For this purpose I believe Hebrews 6: 16-20 is most fitting: 

People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

I have so many wonderful nuggets from God’s great treasure box to share with you all, so please bear with me if today’s information is less concise than usual. I feel almost like (stamp please) “a kid in a candy store” knowing all are amazing but too much is not a good thing! 

Let’s pick up with where we stopped last: When Christ rebuked the mind set of Peter notice He did not call Peter out on the carpet, why would He? No, he give credit where credit is due and this badge of dis-honor was pinned to Satan. However, don’t you know that it got Peters attention.  I am not saying that Peter had not had a momentary memory lapse, (stamp please) “he lost his head” for a moment. But Peter would never get behind the things of Satan and He would NEVER in his right mind walk into his tent!

In truth, Satan is not even a force which should trip us because we have the reckoning force in our arsenal.  We are also given the right to wield His truth to drive out any mocker who slithers into our camp.   We must remember that with power comes a mighty responsibility.  We must be committed to not wield this power for the desires of His enemy, as we have studied with this gift comes a promise from God to protect others from our misuse and a warning toward one allowing themselves to be an instrument in Satan’s hand.

(excuse my side bar statement please): Many times we are much like Peter, we speak first and ask questions later.  If we would all slow down, think about purpose, outcome, affect of the words which we are pronouncing and directives of actions we committing our self to, we might listen more and humbly speak less. 

To really understand Christ’s mind set in this moment, think about when we have a problem with a company.  To begin,  let’s assume this problem is something of urgent importance.  Would we depend on a customer service representative and waste precious breath and time, or head straight to the highest up guy in charge who calls the shots?  We all know we dismiss the small guy and blast “I want to speak with your supervisor!” or whoever the highest official is on the premises.  Christ was on first name basis with Satan, so He went straight to the top.

Today we are looking at this from Peters point of view, because sometimes we just need someone to make us aware of where we are standing and what we are up against; at least I do anyway. If you would like more scripture, this is not exhaustive, but it will help you compare the context I was reviewing: Matthew 12:22-37, Mark 4 and Luke 11:17-28

There are only two dynamic power houses in operation at present.  We may enter and take refuge in either camp, but it is impossible for us to be a dynamic force within both, we will call them frenemies.  When the this person cannot get behind either of those and commit they are stamped “Monkey in the Middle” and placed out side the camps to wander aimlessly around “No Mans” land.

No one can last long in this land, because no man is an island; we can never be “self” sufficient.  We are created to be interdependent.  Think it through: We are born out from a miraculous protective all giving force.  At the moment of detachment we are literally able to sustain life relying on our bodily supply for a very brief time.  We must depend upon the function of our environment for everything beyond that. 

Each powerhouse provides with a plethora of gifts to grow us up. What are we being nourished and sustained with? We have no choice for a time, but there is a moment when we have to choose. Over and over God stresses for us to understand if we are living amidst healthy things and being fed by His environment. As we grow, we are told to leave the home which formed our ideals and fed us their fare. This is the goal of each power, duplication of their identity.  We then become the representative strong man and we are directly reflecting who’s power gave us life. We take all their gifts call them good and give them out to everyone naturally and without any thought. 

God lovingly warned us in 2 Corinthians, of our accountability to be mindful of what we are behind: Take care what you listen to, by your standard of measure it shall be measured to you and more shall be given you besides.  We cannot sit at two tables …..we will starve in No Mans land.  There is no power there beyond self sufficiency.  Also there is a very real point of no re entry and we all know we cannot go back into the womb from which we came!

Lastly, please prayerfully sit with the verses below and ask yourself:

• Am I willing to allow myself to be interdependent?
• Do I despise the thought of not being self sufficient?
• Am I willing to belong to a larger entity and give when I want to be given into?
• Can I ask for help and see it as a blessing that someone is more qualified at something or do I have to be able to do everything?
• Will I allow myself to walk out of unhealthy alliances?
• Do I believe God would tolerate a frenemies in His intimate trusted “friendships?

Luke 11:22 But when someone stronger than he attack him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he relied and distributes his plunder. 

Matthew 12:30 Christ states: He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

2 Corinthians 10:4,5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Christ could have taken us out of the world, but He did not.  He has a battle plan and it does not involve subjecting ourselves to undue evil.  There is a No Mans Land for a reason, because He love ALL of us.  Remember, we are not God….nor their Savior or anyone’s Holy Spirit.  We do not have to stick around and mold anyone or discern if they are saved: For by your words you shall be justified and by your words you shall be condemned. (Matthew 12:37) The only place self comes into play is choice.  We all get to chose for our self who we will get behind – I pray it is not your “self”.  As we know you will just implode!

Do not allow your thoughts to take any of this out of His context. Never forget, YOU are already loved my in a mighty way by the Lord God Almighty….no matter what camp you choose!

For the Cause of His Eternal Love, in Christ Jesus
Kisses,
Candace

   Copyrights Reserved ©Candace Huffmaster 2014 

  Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc.®

Fee Fi Faux Friend.....

“Fee Fi Fo Fum, ask not whence the thunder come. For between heaven and earth it’s a perilous place, home to a fearsome giant race. Who hunger to conquer the mortals below, waiting for the seeds of revenge to grow…”

The original usages of this rhythmic statement was by Shakespeare (not exact phrasing) and versions of Jack and the Beanstalk.  Maybe sometime we will get to the deeper applications, however today we are keeping our focus on this perilous place / earth, the mortals we are amidst and the seeds planted.   Let's look at how the giant was aware of a smelly foe in his house.  His character aside and the reason for searching out the intruder, upon catching a whiff of the displeasing odor, he was proactive about protecting his property. Questions:  Can we smell the stench and spot the fakes among us?  Would we run after them in confidence bellowing, "FEE, FI, FAUX-FRIEND!"

Knowing this might be a bit abstract, I'll explain further:   We know what a faux finish is, they have been used for over 5,000 years. As this creative expression evolved, over time, great recognition was awarded to artists who could actually trick viewers into believing their work was the real thing.  This is creative expression and not a bad thing.  God is not against things being improved or evolving to a higher form to reach their best; but He is angered by a con job:

Matthew 23:27.  Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs--beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity.

Not everyone desires relationships for healthy reasons. But have you noticed they never tell you this upfront?  They con us to lure us in.  We must also realize not all people understand that they are unhealthy and hurt people.  Some people keep trying, but will not accept wisdom, therefore they continually leave wreckage all around them.  Our focus here is not them however, it is being able to identify the faux-friends. 

Persons not desiring a mutual balanced relationship all have the same pattern.  As soon you allow them in  and they are feeling relatively confident of your faith in the scam, they will begin letting  a string or two of their suit unravel to see or test how you handle it.   One of their most subtle threads is when you speak they will slightly discount you; this will go on till they have successfully muted you. Don't be surprised.  The reason why is quiet obvious; they must always be in control of the string pulling and only expose what they think they can distort.  If you can still see clearly, they are at a disadvantage.

It will play out something like this: you see something and it doesn't agree with the storyline you have been told, so you speak up to clarify.  All healthy relationships are built on trust and awareness, it is how intimacy is built and protected.  They test the relationship, to qualify their skill and your buy in.  If they need to back you off because they are too exposed they will do something like:

• Turn up their voice or cut yours off
• Walk beyond the reach of your voice, if your voice won't stop walk out
• Stick around to show you how much they do not care / disconnect their empathy for you

Once you are stabilized they will reenter as if nothing happened to toss you a few crumbs.  If you appear to have forgotten about it, then all is well.  Do not think they get scared of being exposed.  This is their goal.  To be totally exposed and you not react is their sweet spot.  We get discombobulated because we try to make it something mysterious and hidden, instead of plain as the nose on our face. This was the reason God did not want us to have knowledge of good and evil.  It kills relationships, which destroys our very life.  Proverbs 26:25 tells us a bit about their disguise:

They pretend to be kind, but don't believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.

As evil as their actions are, the real devastation is the harm inflicted upon your heart, mind and soul.  Will you allow their lack of loving kindness to damage you?   Will they change you? Will you loose who you are and become like them? May that NEVER be!

We all change, as we have been discussing, but we do not all change for the better.  We all grow up, but we do not all mature.  We know all things affect the great picture and if you do not believe this is true now, I pray to God that you realize it prior to horribly affecting tender soul. Yesterday we were discussing the reality of all conversations.  These immaterial things alter the universe forever.  We cannot be muted or erase, that is the good news.  

All relationships shift, so we must not hold on so to them.  Christ even said to the women at the tomb not to cling to Him because He had not received His resurrected body.  We are to allow Him to cling to us, receive our fulfillment from relating with Him.  But this doesn't let faux-friends off the hook. We are responsible for our actions and inactivity is still active.  It is just a negative action.

When our "someone" accepts our invitation of relationship, we are so excited that good things pour from us with out even realizing we are doing them; at least for some of us.  However, if  it is not mutual the imbalance will negatively affect your energy.  If the person who accepted the invite was not interested in a real relationship you will begin to feel unappreciated.   Since this was the only reason they wanted in, when your energy levels drop and your good tidings wain a bit, they will begin grumbling and complaining.

If you stick around, or do not find space from these types of individuals you may get worn down by the constantly bombarding of convoluted precepts and intentions.  If you still don't do something  your spirit begins to grieve and you soul sinks down.  Again, this where they want you; this is their payoff.  Now they have a space where they don't have to keep their uncomfortable suit on. Will you just lay down and give up your space? It is never too late to rise up and shout "Fee, FI, Faux-Friend!" 

Friday, we discussed the crumb tossers, and how they starve us to get us to chase after their crumbs.  We do not wait for a whole cracker to be presented.  Think about how Satan did this to Jesus in the desert, just before he offered him the worldly suit. Christ had to be starving, it had been 40 days and He had no food.  But He did not listen did he?  He said man will not live by bread alone, but by the very word which preceds from the mouth of God.  So let's not grovel for their crumbs.  Let's get our crackers from the Lord, okay?

Our last point today is this: Discern if those you are listening to, and preferring (like husbands and wives are supposed to prefer each other and the body of Christ is to prefer each other) are they encourager's or discourager's?  If no matter how hard you try to be something positive in their life and you get only crumbs in return.  Chances are they have no cracker they are "willing" to extend your way.  They would have already done it without you groveling for it. 

Do not stay close to someone who is disonnected to how their life affects others.  Also do not allow people in who can define a problem really well, but don't have a propensity to extend compassionate efforts to give you a better relationship just because they can.  Do not become any ones mute point. God created you to add dimension to this world, He is delighted with your beauty.  And whether anyone else EVER truly is a real friend to you or not, He will continue to do a good work with your life. 

In other words, only let people in your sweet spot who want to be around you because you make them want to be a better person.  These are the people to hand an invite to.  They will keep you energize because they enjoy being with you, sojourning.  And you know what, this will make YOU want to be a better person just because you know you can be, not because if you don't they won't throw you one of their disgusting crumbs!

Below is a clip from As Good As It Gets.  Even if you have see it before I encourage you to watch it.  Think about how we pull out our measuring tapes and size up who we invite in.  People even you and I hurt others, but we don't have to break them - that is a choice.  Lastly, if your sweet spot gets ransacked, don't get so desperate that you accept just any crumb.  Let them prove they are they are a worthy, equal suitor for the spot.  Use lots of healthy honest dialogue, I guarantee it you talk with them long enough their threads will unravel and they will have to run for cover. 

I pray that you have many people surrounding you telling you that YOU make THEM want to be a better person.  I also pray that they love you so well that eve when they have a stray string, you cover them in case some fabric flies off. 

God love you, each and everyone!

Kisses,

Candace

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc®

©Candace Huffmaster 2013, All Copy Rights Reserved