In His Image We Were Made

This is the day that the Lord has made, so let’s rejoice in it!!

He is such a Good God…Great really.  What could possibly bring us to any other destination than rejoicing?  Consider, think on, hold in your heart these thoughts:

• If the Lord our God, who is all mighty, be for us then what could possibly come against us with any success to the point of harming us? 
• Also: Just as close as you hold this thought in your mind and heart, God, who loved you before you existed in the flesh, knew of you.  He knew the number of your days and what you would be facing each and every moment of them. And he has been holding you in His heart, remembering YOU…..

So what in this world, in the heavens, or below is there which you should fear?

Can you ever come to a place of understanding God by taking the Fear bypass?

His word tell us to know and believe his truth.  His own words gave some direction for our travels: the one who fears is not (or cannot be) perfected in Love.  Therefore doesn’t it make sense that the Fear bypass will only take us “around the perimeter” of Love, but not into the heart of it?

To fear the Lord is not what we perceive it to be (I know this is a gross generalization).  What this speaks of is an understanding of how mighty and victorious He is; how all consuming of Righteousness, purity and holiness He is.

To understand this is so overwhelming to our finite minds we dummy it down to create Him in ways we can comprehend.  This is the sin of idolatry – creating Him into an image of man (or something we can fit nicely into our apple basket).

When His word tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, it means thinking new, different thoughts.  This would take His mind to achieve, otherwise, we are still comparing man’s thoughts to man’s thoughts – which will not obtain an original God thought (the needed orange in our basket). 
This is why it is so important for us to “believe” that the bible is God’s word through humans.  It is also why He demands that we not add to it or take away from it.  Again, this would be idolatry.

When He tells us not to conform to this world but to be transformed – we are to understand that piece by piece we are to put down our man made ways and replace them one by one with a God made way.  God made us in His image, through His understanding.  So we cannot be everything He designed us to be by making God in our image – kinda’ stupid simple when the rubber hits the road don’t ya think?

To think of the end destination comparatively to where we are now and the distance we must travel will make even the most challenge loving, self persistent individual shrink back in fear of this daunting adventure.  This is why God tells us up front that the one who shrinks back, He takes no pleasure in.

But do not make God human in His statement.  He did NOT say, “If you do  not do it my way, I won’t like you nor will I have anything to do with you because you are an idiot for not doing what I said.”

What He DID say was this, “It will not bring me to a point of celebration and joy, because my hearts desire is to slather you with ALL my good pleasure, to the point it is chasing you down to overtake you.  And you are funning away from all the help I have in store for you – DON”T Do THAT!  I want GOOD things for you and not things which will harm you!!

Instead of allowing all the false imaginations to hijack you before you even pull onto the road, remember God never expected you to be on the road by your sheer grit –or to have to figure it out all by your smart self.  This would have never given Him what He wanted….relationships.  After all, He is the one who originated the thought, it is not good for man to be alone. He created us not for sacrifice but for a body to call His own.  Just like He created Eve for Adam – something to call His very own, and she him.  I bet what God was thinking as He said, “That’s Good” is, Now that’s good – they would have never known how good, wonderful and perfect life can be without a relationship – and I want them to know only an awesome, loving, take your breath away good life – so they will have something to rejoice about each and every new day I bring them to and through!

That is why I know, understand and believe that He is a Great God….Really! =D

So today, knowing all this, I leave you with a pray of love; which I request to cover each of you as you seek to understand, by way of knowing, the great true love he has for you.  And a question for you to answer to the best of your ability:

Why is integrity so important?

By way of the one who is faithful and the true witness – with Love in my heart and mind as I hold each of you near and dear:
Kisses,
Candace

© 2007 by Candace Huffmaster, All Rights Reserved

Knowledge that is Productive -by Os Hillman

This week why don't you go back over what you have been writing about for the past three weeks.  Take a look at what your mind has been set on.  Are you hyper focusing on something other than a healthy growing relationship with your creator and your intimate family members.  This is where our priority is supposed to be.  Make sure when you are focusing on those two things that your focus does not become about "what is not going your way".  If you have no family around you then your focus is more liberated to help those outside of your relationship with God.  The only reason we are alive today is to be able to have relationships - all else is useless - vanity - chasing after the wind.

I thank God for his mercy and grace, for his desire to prosper us in real ways and for his relentless desire to abide with right where we are in the condition that we are in right at this moment - Not later when we are "all better".  I request that our souls get comfortable settling down with His spirit and allowing it to prosper us in all ways.

With the Love of our Christ,
Candace

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:8

Productivity is a term all workplace believers can relate to. It is the by-product of what we desire from our work. Without productivity, we do not make sales, we do not deliver goods, and we do not achieve our goals. There are things in our work lives that can creep in making us unproductive. The same is true in our walk with God.
The apostle Peter tells us that we can become knowledgeable of Jesus but fail to be effective and productive in our relationship with Him. We are a society that has great knowledge, but our comparable scale of productivity from that knowledge is extremely weighted to the knowledge side. The apostle Peter tells us there is a solution to this dilemma.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8).

Is your Christian experience filled with knowledge, but little power? Is there staleness in your walk with God? Is there unrest in your soul? It may be due to a need to develop character that only the Holy Spirit can develop out of an obedient heart. Ask the Lord today to add these qualities to your faith so that you can be productive as a soldier of Jesus Christ.

Praise in Pros

Conversations With My Dad:
Journal Entry Monday March 14, 2011

Good Morning Daddy~

I thank you that all that you are is more than enough for all our needs.  I praise you for loving  us unconditionally.  The joy in my heart raises my eyes to see, that nothing can come between us due to your divine care.  Circumstance or situations will never command my will to forsake you in fear of their strength.  The only voice I will follow is your voice which rescued me.

The others are your enemy and from them you protect all.  Your body cannot be harmed ~ and I am cupped in your strong embrace.  Your mighty arm lifts me high above where they are bound.  Your Kindgdom each day comes to save us from this place.

Be alive and well in each of us this day.  You are - the Great I Am.  I Am, becuase you are.  I believe in what you have said, spoken in compassion and Love.  Your son came to deliver all.  May He live in Spirit through our souls.  He is our head and Way, your Spirit increases in strength.  Together we are the One, Leading all into your Shekinah glory and grace.

Shine bright this day my Lord.  May I help you prepare their feast.  The words that give life in full: their salvation, their provision, their peace.  Fill their minds, etch their hearts,bind around their wrists, adorn their necks ~ cover them in your Love.  Oh, the joy that will spill into our streets!

Lord God Almighty reigns.  He is alive in the moments of this day.  Look for Him as you go on your way.  Merge with Him as He serves.  He is feeding the masses in many small ways.  Sometimes He requests your voice, other times the glance of your face.  Always the prayers of your lips and the gentleness of your able hands.

Nothing He asks is too small.  Nothing He gives will fall short.  Always an ever present help.  Never forsaking their needs. 

Our God is King of Kings.  Our Lord is Lord of Lords.  His Spirit is Almighty in all ways.  Let us humble ourselves as we participate, in the delightful work of His will.  Hosannah in the Highest ~ yet a mere servant amidst human forms.  This is the King that we serve; this is the Mighty I Am.

Live strong in us; raise us up.  Perch our ears to hear you speak. Clutch our soul within your Spirits strength.  Move us in harmony and peace to achieve your grand plans.  Your vision is all that we need.  Our obedience is at your command. 

Let it be done to us one and all; as you will provide and delight.  For this day is your alone, and you give it so all might be blessed.

In Christ alone, we are with you.  Through all you are, we are One.
Amen,
Candace

Confidence In Numbers - by Oz Hillman

Continuing our thoughts on growing our faith think on what Oz has to say on our Deeply topic:
I have great confidence in all that God is doing within each of your lives. I know I will have great bragging rights as to how each of you encourage me to keep on with what I do by the way you grow in your understanding and stand tall in your faith.


I thank God for each of you,
Candace


Confidence in Numbers
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Wednesday, March 09 2011

"David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg You, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.'" - 2 Samuel 24:10
It just seems to be human nature. As we grow in wealth and ability, our confidence moves from complete trust in the Lord to trust in our resources. King David decided one day that he needed to know how many fighting men he had in his army. This was a grievous sin in the nation of Israel. God always made it clear to the nation that He, not their army, was their source. It was against the law of God to number the troops. David's general, Joab, knew the serious nature of such an action.

But Joab replied to the king, "May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?" (2 Samuel 24:3)

Joab knew that David was treading in dangerous waters when he brought up the idea to him. But David had it in his mind that this is what he was going to do. And he did. The result: God judged David for this sin by smiting the nation with a plague that resulted in the loss of 70,000 lives.

Recently, I was having lunch with a former stockbroker who lost everything in the 1987 stock crash in the United States. He made an interesting comment. "You cannot know how to fully trust the Lord in the financial area until you really have to. When I lost everything, I was forced to trust Him when I knew I could not pay my next bill unless God provided. This was the time I learned to trust God. I never had to trust God before I lost my money because I had plenty. We don't willingly enter this level of trust with God."

Ask God today to keep you from trusting in your own resources. Ask Him how to balance trust and blessing from Him this day.

Taking Our Frustrations Out On Objects

“They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them, and that rock was Christ.”
 “We shouldn’t put the Lord to the test as some of them did.”

In 1 Corinthians 10 these verses are speaking of God's people as they were being led by Moses.  God was imploring them to learn from others experiences. The old testement is filled with many trip, fall, fly experiences.  Christ came so that we could see the difference between doing life through "the best of our abiliy" verses "the best of God's ability".  Yet we still want to "do it OUR way!"  Why?  Believe me when I say I pose this question to myself as much as anyone else here.

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. I believe that God desired him to exemplify that we are to converse through relationship, love. Striking that rock was a complex reaction. I think it probably stemmed from Moses’ frustration with the people and feeling a bit out of contol of the situation.  He was lashing out. He wanted to demonstrate power…But.his power or Gods?”

Think about this - Christ is our rock, through Him we are delivered, rescued, saved eternally for relationship.  If Christ is our rock would it be as if Moses was striking Christ himself?  That is a bit brutal to think - but it offers us a parallel.  To me,  that would make more sense as to why Moses was not allow to enter in. (But that could be way off base ya know- just pondering)

How would if feel to want to be seen as loving and giving, only for someone to make it look as though it took their brute force to MAKE you give it?  How do we act as though we are forcing God to give us something He was already going 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". Gods idea of having Moses speak to the rock explaining God's love and provision while the water starts bursting forth would have been magnificent. . 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 altar - where we lay our ways of accomplishing things down to do it the way God has requested.  Knowing that by this - 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,
Candace

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

Desiring Gods Best

Genesis 2:21So the LORD God caused him to fall into a deep sleep. While the man was sleeping, the LORD God took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.

As I have been thinking over these verses in Genesis, several thoughts have crossed paths:

• Adam did not find anything formed directly from the ground as he was desirable as his mate
• God took something Adam already had within himself out of him to increase his life and make it "Good"
• The word "took" in Hebrew also has a meaning of choose, take in marriage, receive, accept
• The word "rib in Hebrew also has a meaning of side-chambers or cells (of temple structure)
• When God closes up things they cannot be opened and what He opens cannot be shut
• The word "flesh" in Hebrew also has a meaning of flesh as frail or erring (man against God)
• The word "place"at the foot of (idiom) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig) of subjection or conquest

I ask that you think on these thoughts today request that the holy spirit guide you as you meditate on them.  Later this afternoon or before tomorrow I will add a second post to the topic.

In the Love of Christ with His heart I pray peace, joy and above all else love over you this day and forever, Amen,
Candace