Why Tell People The Truth?

How many times do we hear people say things such as: it's none of your business, keep your nose in your own business, I will just offend them if I don't agree with them, don't say anything if you can't say something nice...... This list goes on and on doesn't it.

As a society it appears that to stick our heads in the sand or allow people to run off the end of a cliff without warning them is the "kind" thing to do.  The truth is, it is the most comfortable thing to do.  None of us like confrontation, especially when we know the mindset of those we are compelled to speak the truth to.  We are constantly judged and judging the intents of others, instead of listening to what people have to say and thinking that they might have a selfless motive. 

God gave us the perfect reason to step out and speak up in Ezekiel 3: 18-21:

"Suppose I tell you that wicked people will surely die, but you don't warn them or speak out so that they can change their wicked ways in order to save their lives.  Then these wicked people will die because of their sin, but I will hold you responsible for their deaths.  But suppose you warn the wicked people, and they don't turn from their wicked ways.  Then they will die because of their sin, but you will save yourself.  If righteous people turn from living the right way and do wrong, I will make them stumble, and they will die.  If you don't warn them, they will die because of their sin, and the right things they did will not be remembered.  I will hold you responsible for their deaths.  But if you warn righteous people not to sin, and they don't sin, they will certainly live because they listened to the warning.  You will save yourself."

Keep in mind that this was spoken to Ezekiel - God appointed him to be a Watchman over Israel. He told Ezekiel to tell them: 

Change the way you think and act.  Turn away from all the rebellious things that you have done so that you will not fall into sin.  Stop all the rebellious things that you are doing.  Get yourselves new hearts and new spirits.  Why do you want to die, nation of Israel?  I don't want anyone to die, declares the Almighty Lord.  CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK AND ACT!

If we are called to carry on the mission of Christ, isn't that the same ministry?  Where we are in Marks storyline of Jesus' journey in spreading the Gospel is prior to His resurrection.  The indwelling of the spirit by believers has not happened yet.

As I read on about Jarius' daughters death and how Christ went with him to heal her, is when I recalled Ezekiel journey.  When Jesus arrived at their home, there was a large group of people carrying on about his child's death.  Jesus asked them, "why are you carrying on so, she isn't dead, but asleep?"  I assume the reason they laughed at Him was lack of belief. 

Jesus made all of them go outside, only her parents, His 3 disciples and himself entered where the girl was.  Jesus took her hand and said, "Little girl, I'm telling you to get up!"  (Talitha Koum!) And she got up and started walking at once.  Entering now was my memory of "The Valley of Dry Bones".

Ezekiel 37: 1-4, 11-14

The power of the Lord came over me.  The Lord brought me out by his Spirit and put me down in the middle of a valley.  The valley was filled with bones.  He led me all around them.  I saw that there were very many bones at the bottom of the valley, and they were very dry.  Then he asked me, " Son of man, can these bones live?"  I answered, "Only you know, Almighty Lord."  Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, Tell them Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord.  This is what the Almighty Lord says to these bones:  I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.  I will put ligaments on you,k place muscles on you, and cover you with skin.  I will put breath in you, and you will live - Then you will know that I am the Lord. 

The Lord also said to me, "Son of man, all the people of Israel are like these bones.  The people say, Our bones are dry, and our hope has vanished.  We are completely destroyed.  So prophesy.  Tell them, "This is what the Almighty Lord says:  My people, I will open your graves and take you out of them.  I will bring you to Israel.  Then , my people, you will know that I am the Lord, because I will open your graves and bring you out of your graves.  I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. I will place you in your own land.  Then you will know that I the Lord, have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord."

Of course this triggered thoughts about the forming of mankind ( which we covered in the opening study of God's Story Being Told ), God called the dry land earth, God said the heavens and the earth will pass away but His word will not pass away and many other verses. 

What about you?  What comes to mind when you read all this?  Remember, you are part of His story being told.  Why don't you write a bit more of it today by journaling, to Him, some of your thoughts.  See what He tells you, then share it ....in faith of His faithfulness.

All for His glory and name sake,
Kisses,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

Love is Unconditional, Relationships are Conditional

Good Morning - I want to take a moment to wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving.  It is possible I will not post anything in preparation of an early meal (YIPPEE!!) 

Many of the e-mails bounced back from this post - no surprise since I was sending it from my BB device.  In order for you to understand the full meaning of today's post you need this part - If you already read this simply skip down below the second dotted line for today's information.

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Saturday November 19, 2011

Still pressed for time and have not been able to get these things proofed and loaded.  I have to pick back up and just send them as they are. These all lead into each other - and usually I take them "from private conversations and reorganize them into generic conversations"  However, there is no time for that.

Today I will start with Oct 18th - I pray these give you whatever answers or thoughts you are requesting:

Dad,

I do love you with all of my heart - The heart that you gave me planted deep in my flesh - which enlivens my soul to think all these thoughts

Without a spirit our mortal life ends - of this no one questions - the just do not know where to begin.  You tell us the beginning you tell us our earthly end.

You speak of the spirit realm to guide all our days: to prepare us for eternal life; to choose our self you say.

I think I see something of this space in between.  It is where the path crosses - our collisions of space - the time you will not cut short- the moments of our days.

If you had not paused us on the planet of earth, given us the space to think our broken thoughts, all of us who enter here would have been separated from you - and you could not allow that so you planted, you planned the perfect place called Eden to house the broken thoughts of man.

You planted him in the east corner - you protected the gates back in - you set flaming swords at the cross road, your truth and your right hand. 

You have the Highest of Angels covering all your truth, charging any invader back from whense he came.  Of destruction there will be nothing - You've ensured that victory will last.  From beginning through all ages all is held and place by the only I AM!

Lead us as you search us - the Holy Spirit is embracing all.  Through Christ were held together - His body will never be torn - The separation was done on the cross, to this day all things are shaking - as He kicks the dust from His feet.  Each day He fights this good fight and we pass through the shifting sands of time - to Be sifted, shaken and polished for His glorious head to shine.

The crown He wears is not ashes - no longer thorns ground from this found.  We are now brilliant gem stones and He displays us all with eternal pride.

Think about this and I will send the last part when I get back to my computer today.

With love and a holy kiss,

Candace

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East of Eden I planted man; my heart I riped to give him; My choice - by my very hand

If not for my deep pleasure of a birth, even I knew pain,these things we would not be mentioning; My all would have been into Me.

In that I found no good thing; for I had love too large to hold. It became useless and so heavy when it weighed upon me.

I created man to share it  - to carry it throughout their days; to teach them of its good pleasures of the liberty without the weight ~ but they must see past their own love or they will be buried by the pounds..... The pulse of every rivet as it presses them into the ground.

Water will surely save them - for it washes away the earth ~ Just as the family of Noah who I also gave a second birth. 

Then there too was Jonah who's life had a whale sized love - It sank Him straight to the bottom; it bound him to take his last breath; but through the waves I released him to take a second chance.

Though you walk at times through deep valleys and at times the desert seems hot ~ believe me when I tell you there are things you do not WANT to know.  While knowledge seems inviting ~ to understand evil seems sound ~ the only Tree worth its value is the Tree that brings you life.

The tree of choice bore all burdens ~ His blood cleansed the choice that was made.  You now have the chance to choose Eden ~ the home of the (7?) streams.  Walk in; between the cherubim ~ for their arrows will not touch your head ~ inside are my children and great pleasure ~ your family, your friends, your TRUE life.

Be Well - because all is Right.

Kisses C~

Duet 28:7  The Lord will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way and shall flee before you 7 ways.

Want To; Have To; Ought To: What To Do???

Good Morning All,

Again, what a glorious day - isn't it.  Open a window, or roll one down...(or if you don't know what I'm speaking of press the window down button -haha) - now take a big wonderful WHIFF - that's what I'm talking about!  Sunshine, Whimsy, Freshness.....spring is in the air isn't it!

So with all this freshness and new life abounding - let's talk about putting some dead things underground and planting things that will show beauty in it's place. 

We are going back to Genesis for the day - maybe two who knows??  We stopped with "God's Story Being Told in Genesis 3 where God was enforcing "But, you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it you will certaily die".

God tells us that WE choose a blessing or a curse - this is what Adam did. God "had to" enforce what He put in place.  Genesis 3:22-24 (GWT) states:

Then the Lord God said, "The man has become like one of us, since he knows good and evil.  He must not reach out and take the fruit from the tree of life and eat.  Then he would live forever."  So the Lord God sent the man out of the Garden of Eden to farm the ground from which the man had been formed.  After he sent the man out, God Placed angels and a flaming sword that truned in all directions east of the Garden of Eden.  He placed them there to guard the way to the tree of life.

Let's think through the chain of events here - Adam and Eve were just livin' the dream.  THEN (da, da, da, DA) enters the slimmy serpent. " Look at the pretty piece of fruit EVE"  "Don't you want it" "Oh, you know you want it"  "You have got to taste it - it's like nothing you've ever tasted before".  The thoughts start...

We "want to" hold it, taste it,  experience it (whatever it may be).  BUT we know what we "have to" do in order to be following the rules.  Rules, guidlines, authority, regulations do you feel the heaviness and rigidity coming on when you read those words.  But they are necessary to keep everything moving and flowing without calamity.  Then comes the accountability when the two extremes battle it out and our higher self realizes what we "ought to" do.  This causes anxiety due to the pressure of our will.

At this moment we find ourselves paralyzed walking through the middle of this intersection.  Vehicles are entering from each road:  A convertible coming down  Want To Lane, a minivan on  Have To Drive and a crossover at Ought To Road -  when a SUV from "What To Do Parkway comes tearing up to the intersection .........  Are we just going to stand there and let these cars run us over or are we going to move?  What makes us choose which way to move?  Is it just fate?

How do we make a decision in such a crisis?

Let's go back to Adam and Eve.  God told Adam there were going to be elements to protect against.  He had already framed where Adams mind set should have been focused.  He had told Him this one thing NOT to do - or he would certainly die.  God told him "What To Do" there should have been no pause to begin with - BUT Adam "Wanted To Do" something different. Wanting to do something is much different than actually doing it.  Wanting is part of the process of figuring out who we are, what we look like in comparison to those rules, regulations, guidlines and authority.  That is the reason it feels heavy.  That is what the law of God was set for.  Remember, the law brings death. 

Be very aware of this: If you park on those things you are going to be road kill!  They are just road signs along the way.  So today, park yourself in your puzzle box.  Just pick up one piece and ask God to help you perfectly place it.  Ask Him to help you understand what He meant when He whispered to me:

"The Sojourn IS the answer....The Question an Endless Plight"

Today I pray for us all to "Be Still, and Know He Is God".

One last thing in reference to sweeping out debris or organizing our puzzle pieces - Think about how upset we as moms get when we really do a great spring cleaning and everyone comes in dropping stuff, tracking things in and cooking in our fresh perfect house.

Can you imagine if God allowed that to go on in Eden. We would be recreating this world with all the frustrations we go through ETERNALLY.  So let's thank Him for His patience, mercy and grace as we the houses of our mind!


With the Love of our Christ,
Candace

Add-On's

Good Sunday Morning Everyone!!

What a beautiful crisp day it is. To me, the Garden of Eden must have had days like this. Birds swooping to perch on limbs and sing their little hearts out.  Squirrels racing across the top of limbs rustling all the colorful leaves while the breeze is gently wrapping it all together in a gentle hug.......mmmmm, I love this time of year - can you tell?

Speaking of the Garden we are moving on the verse 3:2 of Genesis today:

(GWT) The woman answered the snake, "We're allowed to eat the fruit from any tree in the garden except the tree in the middle of the garden.  God said "You must never eat it or touch it.  If you do, you will die!"

Wow, so many directions to go with thoughts here.  But to keep on focus of authority I will start with Gods desire.  God granted authority and provision of protection to Adam, right?  Adam was there with them when God spoke his words of instruction, not Eve.  Friday we discussed "Why didn't Adam speak up to protect them from this evil?"  We will now take that a step further to ponder this:

Why did Eve think that they were not to even "touch" the tree or they would die?  God did not say that!  Does it make sense that Eve would make that add-on when she was simply asked this question?  Does it make sense that Adam might have made the add-on to show HIS authority? 

I propose that the reason that Satan even had an opportunity to attack a vulnerability was due to Adam giving false, misleading information.  Satan didn't ask Adam - he knew the truth.  He asked the one who had not received the truth in its purest form.  Satan had a foothold and he knew it.  Did Adam not step up because he knew he had added-on and did not want to be exposed?  Either way the damage was done and he didn't want to fess up, he just wanted it to be overlooked in hopes of nothing too bad happening ...maybe?

Look at what happened to Moses when he was told to give the Israelites water from the rock.  All Moses had to do was speak to the rock and show God's power.  But as a human he felt the need to exude his strength my striking the rock and grandstanding.  He stood right in front of His true identity when he did this and suffered.  However, the people still got their provision of water and Moses was humbled.

God states in Revelation - the end of Book One in His series "The Story Being Told"  Revelation 22: 18,19 from God's Word Translation:

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy in this book:  If anyone adds anything to this, God will strike him with the plaques that are written in this book. If anyone takes away any words from this book of prophecy, God will take away his portion of the tree of life and the holy city that are described in this book.

Let's think on that today - where have we felt the propensity to add on or take away at times to show our strength instead of His.  That my sisters and brothers is the idol of legalism - making God in our image.

Today I lift Him up the one who is holy, lovely and pure,the one who is righteous and steadfast, the one and only lover of our souls.  Jesus said that the spirit testifies with him as a witness of Gods undisputed truth. He ends our love story with these beautiful, inspiring words: 

vs 20,21 - The one who is testifying to these things says, "Yes I'm coming soon!"  Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! The good will of the Lord Jesus be with all of you, Amen!

To that I simply say - Live in liberty my sisters and brothers....Live, Love, Laugh, Share, Embrace and above all be victorious because....."Jesus is coming"  ( I have to say I have the excitement of Elf right now when he was stating "Santa is Coming, Santa is Coming".  If you have not seen that clip of Will Ferrell doing this I am going to load it later so you can get a great laugh - but truly we should be that excited =D)

With a Holy Kiss,
Candace