God is NOT slow!

I want to start by saying thank you to the lovely ladies who met for a journey group today.  These groups are always a highlight to my week.  When there is such an openness...a vulnerability in your sharing of thoughts, hopes, and even intimidation's there is an amazing intangible, unreasonable sense of connectivity which transpires.  What a gift you all give me - well not really me, I simply receive it for Him!

We spoke about how He does not want a sacrifice, but a body to call His own.  When we come together corporately like this and love each other unconditionally, that is what He receives! Isn't He awesome; meeting our needs in such VERY real ways through out the moments of our days?

One of your questions / statements brought to my mind the verse telling us how God is not slow.  We were speaking of the difficulties experienced, and the experience gleaned from waiting on God.  We also spoke about how all things return to God fulfilled; how if it is "returning" to Him it must originate from within Him.  All that is not from within Him will fall away, so self made things are not eternal.  I have posted from my journal on the Kisses C page, save that for tomorrow to think on.....in His presence. 

As for today, here it the verse on God is not slow, which I promised to send you.  And as for the painting on opportunity for cross referencing it to the poetry on Eden (asked for after group) I have linked the word opportunity to the Art of Survival page for you to pull that up.  If you have any problems please contact me.

2 Peter Chapter 3 (GW)

 Dear friends, this is the second letter I’m writing to you. In both letters I’m trying to refresh your memory. ² I want you to remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and what the Lord and Savior commanded you through your apostles.

³ First, you must understand this: In the last days people who follow their own desires will appear. These disrespectful people will ridicule God’s promise ⁴ by saying, “What’s happened to his promise to return? Ever since our ancestors died, everything continues as it did from the beginning of the world.”

⁵ They are deliberately ignoring one fact: Because of God’s word, heaven and earth existed a long time ago. The earth appeared out of water and was kept alive by water. ⁶ Water also flooded and destroyed that world. ⁷ By God’s word, the present heaven and earth are designated to be burned. They are being kept until the day ungodly people will be judged and destroyed.

⁸ Dear friends, don’t ignore this fact: One day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. ⁹ The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.

¹⁰ The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have done on it will be exposed.

¹¹ All these things will be destroyed in this way. So think of the kind of holy and godly lives you must live ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and eagerly wait for it to come. When that day comes, heaven will be on fire and will be destroyed. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and melt. ¹³ But we look forward to what God has promised—a new heaven and a new earth—a place where everything that has God’s approval lives.

¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, with this to look forward to, make every effort to have him find you at peace, without spiritual stains or blemishes. ¹⁵ Think of our Lord’s patience as an opportunity for us to be saved. This is what our dear brother Paul wrote to you about, using the wisdom God gave him. ¹⁶ He talks about this subject in all his letters. Some things in his letters are hard to understand. Ignorant people and people who aren’t sure of what they believe distort what Paul says in his letters the same way they distort the rest of the Scriptures. These people will be destroyed.

¹⁷ Dear friends, you already know these things. So be on your guard not to be carried away by the deception of people who have no principles. Then you won’t fall from your firm position. ¹⁸ But grow in the good will and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to him now and for that eternal day!

Amen.

I pray that each of us bless all that is around us - not curse.  We are light, let the darkness BE darkness - but as for us, we have no part in the deeds of that darkness. So separate! (I say that with love AND emphasis dear friends)

Kisses,

Candace



©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

Opportunity is God's Divine Design

Todays thought is posted on our Art of Survival page.  Click the picture to read more

Watercolor: Opportunity

By: Candace Huffmaster

Exhibit: Glimpse of His Glory

Date: May 18 thru June 24

What Delights Me

Sometimes we are so focused on our story that we forget we are just a character with a bit part within His storyline.  (Just reminding you of our discussions from Deeply and Honestly)  Since we have been intently looking for our storyline, attempting to see our character, I wanted to "bring to remembrance" it is His story which is being told.

So here is nugget for you to ponder today (below).  Discern if you believe it. I pray that you do, that your faith will not fail.  Ask Him for all of the forces of His kingdom to lift you up, encourage your faith in His faithfulness today.  Pray that your faith be increased so that when you are tempted, you will surely be found faithful, even today.

With Love,
Candace

What Delights Me

Be hearers of My words
Be Doers of My will
Then My Spirit resounds….
Your actions are made through intent
Returning to Me, my desire
A body which I call My own

My Son came so that you might see
Straight from paradise to take back the keys
From a Father into His Son
My gift was with purpose
And for your eternal good

The blind may now truly believe
The world in which you see
Is not heaven on earth as you think
It is bound and away from me

Be released, even now at this time
With a true faith, which I call Divine
Not in things which you emulate
But my power filled with might by your faith

For the honor and name sake of the Lord
Don't reject My Spirit in your home
Be protective of those whom I've called
Be mindful that, I in them dwell
Be brothers and sisters till the end
For you are and in this there's no doubt

All the walls of division are torn down
When you unlock the chambers of your mind
Then all those prisoners shall be freed
In this there is Liberty indeed

Loose the Love which causes true force
Watch it descend with the grace of a dove
Let it perch on your soul; Let it sing
To share melody’s from the depth of Your King.

So in Love with YOU!
Kisses,
C

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly™

"The Truth of Gods' UnderStanding"

Since we have been discussing “not leaning on our own understanding” We are going to take three steps today. 

• Our first steps is to make sure we are standing on a solid definition of the word understanding:

 UNDERSTANDING is a mental grasp: comprehension. It is the power or capacity to apprehend general relations of particulars – the power to make experience intelligible by applying concepts and categories.  It is a friendly or harmonious relationship: in agreement of opinion or feeling meaning those in relationship make adjustment of differences when they are not on the same page. It is a mutual agreement not formally entered into but in some degree binding on each side. Understanding is an explanation, interpretation and relationally shows sympathy.

• Second step - to ensure both feet are grounded surely underneath us we are under-girding our definition with Gods’ wise words on the subject: Matthew 13:10-17 (GWT):

The disciples asked him, “Why do you use stories as illustrations when you speak to people?” Jesus answered, “Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you. But it has not been given to the crowd. Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge, and they will excel in understanding them. However, some people don’t understand these mysteries. Even what they understand will be taken away from them. This is why I speak to them this way. They see, but they’re blind. They hear, but they don’t listen. They don’t even try to understand. So they make Isaiah’s prophecy come true:  ‘You will hear clearly but never understand. You will see clearly but never comprehend. These people have become close-minded and hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see. Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand. And they never return to me for healing!’  “Blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear. I can guarantee this truth: Many prophets and many of God’s people longed to see what you see but didn't see it, to hear what you hear but didn't hear it.

• Third step - to simply relax in His presence and read what is below – I pray wisdom lay wide open before you,  wooing you to turn the pages till you are filled with His peace, strength, courage and joy.

Have a lovely day!

Kisses,

Candace

The Truth of Gods’ UnderStanding

What are you standing under?

What do you not understand?

Take hold of the thoughts which under gird you,

These things keep you standing upright.

What of your "self" will not crumble?

What of mere man can withstand?

Look around at the mightiest of structures,

What will not be shaken by my hand?

Think of the surest of your steps,

Of them, what came to be?

What of your skills claim the successes?

The mightiest of your mere man made feats.

How sure of your “self” are you really?

Will you dare stand up to my face and brag?

If not for my unending love for you……..

If not for my desiring your success……….

If not for the blood of your Savior……

The moments of your life would not exist!

I tell you this not to Lord over you…..

I tell you this not to bring shame………

I am telling you that I adore you!

I desire you to see what is real…..

I know you cannot really see me,

But I believe you can feel as you read.

I trust that you hear My Spirit speaking.

I have faith in the power of My Truth.

I hope that today you spot a glimmer.....

And its brilliance will cause you to turn.....

To see the light in My eyes search you....

To hear My voice whisper your name.......

To feel the My warmth longing to embrace you....

To blanket your fears and set you free.....

To allow My Love to release you…….

From the gravity this world lords overhead.

There is a spiritual battle ensuing…..

The flesh and the soul are pressed between.

The burden of fear is to keep you.....

The liberty of Love voids all law........

The heavens above will not weight you.....

Do not lie in the earth of its open grave.....

Today, think with all your understanding.....

Apply the least of that which you know.......

What of these concepts are so complex……

Simply relate them to what you don’t know.

I Love You,  Dad

Kisses,

C

©2011 Candace Huffmaster, All Rights Reserved

™ Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc

Another Moment, Another Thought, Another Day and On It Goes

Conversations with my Dad

journal entry

Good Morning Dad - Christ - Holy Spirit.... you are so______ I don't have a word Dad so I will move to my knees at your throne.

When I talk to you, sometimes I feel like I am ignoring Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  But I know you are one.  I don't want to get caught up in this thought - but I am curious???? If you desire, whenever you desire would you enlighten me please.  

Daddy, I need time with you.  I am so very vulnerable - okay...I heard you "No, I am not vulnerable because you and you alone keep me from vulnerability!" 

Today would you like to tell them anything?  Me anything? 

Listen - be still.....

"Okay"

My presence is in you - around you

sustaining you, submerging you, merging us

whether you "emotionalize" it or not - that is what you have to know - believe - trust

Whether you feel it or not - it is, because I AM

and we are one; always in all ways

No matter what is going on, what you receive, have or do not have

I AM with you and you are not vulnerable!

But... you have to Believe

At this point if you can not believe without the manifestation of seeing it, then you will never see it

The test is "what you set your hope on"

If your hope is in a place, activity, thing or person  - when you do not obtain that goal or object as you desired / or perceived it should be, your hope goes away.

However, if your hope is in me alone and you do not obtain what ever the secondary hope was - your hope will not be affected because it was only a bonus.

I only hold back I do not stop your hope from appearing - but you must some times be enlightened through the test as to what your "true" hope is on - so that when you are in trouble you will not fear and cast away your hope - which has a great recompense and reward. "Let not your heart be troubled"  "The truth shall set you free" "What the Lord sets free is free indeed"

The reward is to hear "well done my good and faithful servant" and to know you have grown.

When that is enough for you - you are truly maturing into your image of Christ, your head.

Does that make sense?

"Share your experiences with each other, then others will know I care - I AM real and Be Freed!"

Okay~I will for you Lord

Kisses,

C

There is a story to be told....................

It is the story of what we believe

The faith of the cloud of the witnesses

Our life as one with the King

He has reigned since the beginning

He will reign for all eternity

Each day we weave our stories

through the moments of unending time

the thread of hope will not unravel

the blanket it quilts is LOVE

Journey with me and the others

tell us the moments of your life

Be One with us and the Father

Be a brother a sister to life

Walk the steps of those before us

Reach deep to be touched by their lives

Now take your hand to touch others

Walk with them till they see

How great is His love for them

How Deeply He Desires us to Be Free.

With a Deep, Honest, Passionate and Freely given Love in Him who uphold all things one breath at a time -

To Each Of You,

Kisses,

Candace

© 2006 All Rights Reserved by Candace Huffmaster

Interceeding for Those Who are Rebellious

2 Corinthians 3:17, 18 GWT



This Lord is the Spirit. Wherever the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. As all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils, we are being changed into his image with ever, increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

This week we are going to take some really brave steps…together. We are starting with Isaiah 53 as the curtain is raising:

Who has believed our message?

To whom has the Lord’s power been revealed?

He grew up in his presence like a young tree, like a root out of dry ground. He had no form or majesty that would make us look at him. He had nothing in his appearance that would make us desire him. He was despised and rejected by people. He was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. He was despised like one from whom people turn their faces, and we didn’t consider him to be worth anything.

He certainly has taken upon himself our suffering and carried our sorrows, but we thought that God had wounded him, beat him and punished him. He was wounded for our rebellious acts. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds, we have all strayed like sheep.

Each one of us has turned to go his own way, and the Lord has laid all our sins on him. He was abused and punished, but he didn’t open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. He was like a sheep that is silent when its wool is cut off. He didn’t open his mouth. He was arrested, taken away and judged.


Who would have thought that he would be removed from the world?

He was killed because of my people’s rebellion. He was placed in a tomb with the wicked. He was put there with the rich when he died, although he had done nothing violent and had never spoken a lie.

Yet, it was the Lord’s will to crush him with suffering. When the Lord has made his life a sacrifice for our wrongdoings, he will see his descendants for many days. The will of the Lord will succeed through him. He will see and be satisfied because of his suffering. My righteous servant will acquit many people because of what he has learned through suffering. He will carry their sins as a burden.

So I will give him a share among the mighty, and he will divide the prize with the strong, because he poured out his life in death and he was counted with sinners. He carried the sins of many."He intercedes for those who are rebellious."
                                   _______________________________________________
As we are taking pause to allow the truths of this scene to resonate I want us – in faith – to intercede for those we believe to be rebellious. I personally pray for those that have physically abused me and my family….punished us, judged us and in their minds led us like a lamb to be slaughtered as they left us unprotected by all that was coming against us.

May we realize that we are more than conquerors in Christ as we bravely look at the yokes of our bondage this week.

I also ask that you send me the names and any pertinent details for purposes of prayer of those you are praying.  If you are not comfortable with a name first or last then even an initial will be fine. I will not be posting them however I would like to lift them and you up in prayer this week. You may send them anonymously as well. If anyone would like to join me or talk, text or e-mail I will be available:

candyhuff@aol.com

My love to you all as we continue to fight the good fight and LOVE without ceasing,

Kisses,
Candace

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

Letters, Words, Phrases of Praise

Good Saturday Morning my lovelies,

I know you are already writing - but if you are blocked I jotted a quick poem to stir you.  Remember, you don't have to write pros.  It doesn't even have to be original - adapt something and make it your own.  That is exactly what we do with the bible ya know.  God just asks us to think on it, meditate on it and then let it take on your life and you it's. 

So to day, walk around in your cloak of letters, words and phrases that praise God.  Write them, speak them, sing them.  Reach through someones chaos and touch them with them.  Let God be in every moment of your day - because He is you know!

That is my prayer for us all today,
Kisses in Christ,
Candace

Letter, Words, Phrases of Praise

Writing and thinking; thinking and writing
Fills the lines of this day
As my thoughts go
So goes my life
This is the truth that I say

The glory of God
 Fills the letters that combine
The words come together to praise

All moments are His
This day he has blessed
Glory to His name on High

By Candace Huffmaster

You Will Always Find What You Seek

 

Well it is a New Year guys.  2011; can you believe it?  Where did 2010 go. 

As for me, I have learned so much through this past year.  It was the largest year of growth for Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc, also known as KB, Inc now.  I am starting this year off with getting back to “101”.  You know what I mean, the basic of curriculums undergirding all else.  Our last Genesis post was October 26th.  That alone is enough to tell me to slow it down a bit. 

With growth comes restructuring.  With restructuring comes other individuals.  With other individuals comes delegation, and with delegation comes what to do when they move on.  Looking back, what I learned is that all individuals have to be seeking the same thing.  If not they do not stay.  We all know jobs are not forever.  However, what KB does is not a business it is a ministry so we always have to look at it in that light.  Ministries can only do what the flesh is willing to allow.  The spirit is always desiring to move.  But what is the flesh seeking?

Right now I am taking this opportunity to thank every individual and organization that has understood and extended so much mercy and grace toward our efforts at times.  We thank God for the grace and provision to be able to get to all that we do accomplished.  Sometimes God changes our time lines and circumstances, doesn’t HE? 

All this to get up back on track with a new year and a face set on Unity. 

In Matthew right after the sermon on the mount, Christ teaches the disciples the how to pray.  He follows this up with “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you”  He was speaking about clothing, food, relationships, business…..ALL THINGS.  Notice He did not say all things will be added to the Kingdom, He said all things will be added to “you”. 

In Genesis we stopped with “What do you See”.  This year I am picking it up with “What do you Seek”.  Huge difference!!  God tells us to “seek” him with all our heart, soul, and mind;  when we seek Him we will find Him.  We always find what we are seeking when we do this.  Let’s look at Genesis:

^{Genesis 3:5-9(GWT)}For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing the difference between good and evil and blessing and calamity. And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate. Then the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves apronlike girdles. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you?

We discussed in October that Satan was shifting our mind in order to shift our view.  We see only our heart seeks.  No matter what is there our heart and mind shifts it to fit our desire.  This is the paradigm shift I wrote about last month. 

Adam was no longer seeking God – He desired something else to be added.  Eve did as well.  If you go back and read our past studies you will see God has been seeking to provide for us, so that we may seek Him. 

The Lord God has been calling your name and saying to you, “Where are You?”  He sees YOU, He simply cannot get you to see Him.

I pray this today, January 3rd 2011, you will seek first God and allow Him to add all things to you.  That is His desire and good pleasure toward you. So If you have been hiding like Adam and Eve…..  “Olly, Olly Oxen Free”!

With Love,

Candace

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.

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

Conversations With My Dad

 

Today is the 11th Dad, 11-11-10, this day is important to you.  What makes 11-11-10 different?  What victories are you winning today?  Where are the strongholds finally crushed?  Where is your strength rising, pushing through, out, and above?

Speak to me – to us; your body.  Speak and allow us to comprehend in full.  I am not alone, your body has many members…  That is your house with many rooms! Show me my room that you have prepared…if I have room mates expose them even here now, because your kingdom has come here on earth as it is in heaven.

To Christ our King be the Glory and honor and praise for ever – Amen

Today is important because you are coming together.  There is a great rise before the wake …this day.

A paradigm shift in each moment; all my pieces will fit.  The bulk cannot squeeze through our opening, only the Spirit of God can conform to this shape.

The thieves – they crash to have entry. Don’t get frazzled …the doorway is protected by me. 

Just keep coming – flowing in our body.  The rest is up to me.  You heard exactly what I was saying.  Yes, the rest for the soul was a great price I paid.

So rest, in the arms of our Father, sweet child let Him bounce you on His knee.  He loves with such depth and pleasure you will have nothing but joy as you search His face.

Search and seek that vision…search from night into each day.  He is looking and adoring.  He sees you all; you’re well on your way. 

Just walk ….alone or together…it does not alter your joy.  In times of isolation…this is when you are face to face.  He misses you as you miss Him.  He however can see much larger things.

Trust Him; He will never fail you.  His love never quits any job.  There is no void in His pleasure – there is no lack in a need. There is no day without completion.  There is no end to eternity.

I pray for us all this day…let’s live like this….let’s just give it a try, even if just for today .

Kisses,

Candace

Covenant Relationships - by Os Hillman

"But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark - you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you." Genesis 6:18

The Bible is filled with covenants made between God and people. Six of those covenants were made with Old Testament figures: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David. The seventh was made with His own Son, Jesus Christ. God is always the strongest partner in a covenant relationship.

God made a covenant with Noah in order to preserve the human race. This covenant involved Noah's participation by building an ark. He'd never built an ark before. He'd never had a boat. It was a totally new concept to Noah and the rest of the world. Why would he need a boat in a dry land?

Noah did not have to invent the ark; God gave him the plans-in specific dimensional detail. He did not have to gather the animals-God led them into the ark. God even closed the door when they all came on board. God made it rain to prove why the ark was needed.

The covenant provided all Noah needed to complete his mission in life. When God spoke to Noah to do this thing, he needed only to respond to God's call to do it. Noah could rest in knowing the covenant made with God was going to be fulfilled if he fulfilled his part.
If you have entered into a covenant relationship with God, you too can be assured that God will uphold His part of the covenant relationship. He is committed to fulfilling His covenant with you and to fulfill His purposes in and through your life. It only requires one thing on your part-obedience. He will even provide grace and faith to you to help you fulfill your part of the covenant.

Each of us has a covenant with God. But we also enter covenants with others in our personal and business lives. How are you doing in fulfilling covenants to others? God has given us the example to follow. Ask God if you have any unfulfilled covenants you need to honor. He has called you and me to be covenant keepers. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24). by Os Hillman TGIF

We are told to serve others as though we are serving Him.  We are told to seek first the Kingdom of God and then the other things will be added to this.  We are told to be aliens in this world and that our Kingdom is in heaven, to be salt and light to those that are perishing.  He made the covenant available to all that desired to be part of it, we simply have a choice to be covenant people or to go it alone.  I pray we choose life at each impass and pass into His peace which surpasses all understanding. 

In Christ there is liberty.....accept it today!
Candace

Adversity: Catalyst to a Call

Please go to the search area and type in "what is your final position" to read further on this.

I pray that you hear the Lord leading you to be still and wait for Him today in all that you strive to accomplish.

Without Him we are set up to fail, with Him we can do all things.

Praise God and to Him be all the glory for ever and ever Amen.

Love Candace

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2 by Os Hillman

"Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything" (Acts 9:8-9).

It's hard to find anyone in Christian history who became a great leader without earning an advanced degree in adversity.

To look at John Wesley (1703- 1791), you wouldn't have thought of him as a great Christian leader. He was just over five feet tall and skeletally thin. In his early years, he suffered greatly from feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and a morbid fear of death. Though he didn't understand the Christian gospel, he devoted himself to doing good works for the poor in an effort to earn his way to heaven. While in his early thirties, he sailed to America to do missionary work among the American Indians.

While crossing the Atlantic, Wesley's ship passed through a violent storm that broke the main mast off its base and nearly sank the ship. As the waves crashed over the ship, Wesley huddled in terror, knowing he didn't have peace with God. He survived the storm, and continued to struggle in his relationship with God for several more years.

Finally, back in London, he attended a meeting on Aldersgate Street, where he heard a preacher say that salvation comes by faith in Christ alone. At that point, he said, "I felt my heart strangely warmed."

Soon after that, Wesley began preaching the gospel. His fifty-two-year preaching ministry became the foundation of the modern evangelical movement. But it never would have happened if John Wesley had not been tossed on the stormy seas of adversity.

Adversity is often God's manure for spiritual callings.

God Knows If Our Request Is From Our Heart

2 Chronicles1:10-12 (GWT)
Give me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”  God replied to Solomon, “I know this request is from your heart. You didn’t ask for riches, fortunes, honor, or the death of those who hate you. You didn’t even ask for a long life. Instead, you’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge to judge my people, over whom I made you king. So wisdom and knowledge will be given to you. I will also give you riches, fortunes, and honor like no other king before or after you.”

Wisdom From This Favored King Solomon:  Proverbs 1:1-7
The proverbs of Solomon, David's son who was king of Israel given to grasp wisdom and discipline, to understand deep thoughts, to acquire the discipline of wise behavior: righteousness, justice, fairness - to give insight to gullible people, to give knowledge and foresight to your: a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction: to understand a proverb and a clever saying: the words of wise people and their riddles.

Solomon's opening to this layout was Godly.  Just as God asked Adam to choose the fruit from the tree of Life and not the lesser which was the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Solomon stated "The fear of the Lord is the "beginning" of knowledge.  Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

God knew if we ate from the tree that we would be stubborn fools who despise wisdom and discipline.  This always leads to hardship and death of the "Zoe Life". 

I pray that we drink in His wisdom...His life.  That we refrain from eating the tempting morsels of selfishness, self preservation, fearing that we have to quit because our toil is futile.  What I know is this:  If I am to toil it is to stay patient and faithful that God promised to grant us the desires of our heart....if we trust in Him and His timing.  God is not a genie that is supposed to make things happen on my time line, for my selfish whims.  He will accomplish my hearts desire along with His hearts desire.  What that means is all parties involved will be growing toward His best life possible.  We just have to keep focused on Him and not so much on others.

That is my prayer, that we allow God to be God, Christ to save us all and the Holy Spirit to continue to work us through this life of tripping, falling, and flying in harmony as one.

With the Love of our Christ,
Candace

Life

As for me and my house.....

What do you and your house choose this day?  Life or Death?  Blessing or a Curse. We know that God's word tells us that a curse without a cause does not come. 

Today in the search area on the lower left hand side type in the word Life.  Read through the ones that interest you.  If you do not have availability to the website then go into your concordance in the bible and look up passages that have to do with life..or death and read those.

We will be pulling these all together as we continue on our journey next week.

Much love, gratitude and joy over and for each of you.
Candace

Our Job Is Always "Cultivating and Keeping"

Abad is a Hebrew word with a meaning of cultivating as in the labor of working land, tilling the soil; plowing. It means to cause to work, to make fatigued, to make weary. It also means to serve as a slave; to be made to serve; to be made to worship or honored, to cause to worship. This service can be directed toward things, people or God. When speaking of slaves it means to compel or impress into service. If it is for God it will not seem like service it will be an exhilarating experience not seeming like bondage at all. This is when our free will compels us to become “bond slaves” to Christ; we stay because our life is so good we cannot imagine leaving His work.
This is why Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to be about his fathers work as a bond slave. He was placed there to live in freedom within the good life of plenty. Now let’s look at where we derived the word “keep” from: It was translated from the Hebrew word Shamar meaning to hedge around something (as with thorns); to keep, to guard. In Ecc 12:3 it is referring to a house. It means as a watchman, at time this watchman is a prophet. It means to protect, to abstain oneself, to observe. This is also applied to Gods commands and the Sabbath. It means to regard, to attend, to take heed, beware, revere. Ultimately it means to exercise “great care” as the keeper. (We will see this employed when Adam was escorted beyond the gates of Eden by the Cherubim in a few days.)

So let’s put a bow on this today. God put Adam in the garden so that he would be His bondservant exercising “great care” as the keeper of everything. His service was directed toward things, people and God in order that He might lead all things toward “the way of Zoe life”.

In the devotion I read to start my day (you can go to tabs at top of page click on TGIF to read this devotion) Os was speaking of Josiah. What a great example of how a man was perfectly placed within in a situation by God in order to direct everyone’s attention toward “the way”. In the New Testament Paul uses the “The Way” to describe the gospel. We know that Christ is “the way” back through the gates into Eden.

With all this being said…BIG finish here. Observe yourself and your environment. God has planted you to beware of all that is going on in your land. Take heed to protect it there are things you will have to abstain from in order to give “great care” as the keeper of your garden. You will have to work it, till it and it may make you fatigued at times but keep it up you will be exhilarated and it will not seem like bondage at all. Remember the thorn of crowns placed on Christ’s head. Let that remind us to protect our thoughts and life by faith so that we can see “the way” with clarity.

My love to each of you and a prayer that you not utilize your own strength to do this task, but rely on the super God places on your natural enabling you to do ALL things through Him.

Candace

Quiters and Cheaters Are Rather The Same - Neither Prosper

We can quit jobs, community, family and even God. However, we must understand that when we quit (cave in, lay down and give up) we are not cheating ourselves and others out of allowing God to step in, step up and empower us to transform us, situations and communities.  Let us all be part of His solution, not what grieves Him.  With this in mind we must seek Gods will for variables:

Within families we have relationships which lead to "titles". We have a job description even if it is not written out. Some of us would be fired because we are a total slackard. Maybe divorce is our way of firing people and trying to find a new person with better skills to handle the jobs at hand. However, just as in the work force we may move into another company or organization but unless we choose to be a useful, hard working entity the same dysfunction is going to build our reputation within that entity. Sometimes we stick with family when we should be moving on toward what God has created us for and planned our talents for His work. We must try to communicate first and not keep changing jobs - don't we think that person is a bad risk with no person skills. God designed us to learn and grow not quit and walk away.

On the other hand we would not stick with a job that takes us for granted. After repeated attempts to talk to our employer, if they did not seem to desire what we have to offer we would move to another business that desired to employ what we had to give with our best efforts. That is what the devotion was about yesterday. It also has to do with "standing in the wrong place" which is a past devotion in the archives.
I pray that we if we have not done so, we realize that our families are our first "order of business" to God. If we do not have that right God will not bless or increase us as we go out into the work force. Step by step we will see all crumble before us..unless we seek FIRST his ways so that all might be well with our soul.
With the Love of Christ,
Candace

New Things

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13b-14

Our past can be a hindrance or a help in moving toward God's purposes for each of us. For some, the past has meant pain and heartache, and grace is required so that we do not let our past dictate our responses to the future. If we allow our past to make us a victim, then we have not entered into the grace that God has for us. If we live on memories of past successes and fail to raise our vision for new things, we again are victims of our past.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland" (Is. 43:19). Our past should only be viewed for what we can learn from it. We must move forward and avoid viewing the negative or the positive for more than what we can learn. Many have allowed their past to dictate their future. God is always about doing new things in our lives. He gives fresh revelation of His purposes in our lives. Do not live in the past. Do not hold onto bitterness that may hinder God from doing new and exciting things in your life. He turns our wastelands into streams of water to give life, not death.

How have you viewed your past? Has it hindered you in some areas of your life? Have you relied on past successes to dictate what you will do in the future? Put aside such thoughts and allow God to do a new thing in your life. Ask Him to help you see the new things He wants to do in and through you today.

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" [Author unknown].

The River Flows From It

Genesis 2:8-15 (NAS)



The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. That's where he put the man whom he had formed. The LORD God made all the trees grow out of the ground. These trees were nice to look at, and their fruit was good to eat. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil grew in the middle of the garden.  A river flowed from Eden to water the garden. Outside the garden it divided into four rivers. The name of the first river is Pishon. This is the one that winds throughout Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is pure. Bdellium and onyx are also found there.)  The name of the second river is Gihon. This is the one that winds throughout Sudan. The name of the third river is Tigris. This is the one that flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to farm the land and to take care of it.

We see in verse 10 that a river flowed ”from” Eden to water the garden. We notice that once outside of the garden it “divided”. Once this was established “then” the Lord God took man and “put” him “in” the Garden of Eden – “Why?” So that man would farm the land and to take care of it.
This is our first life lesson where God was showing us what it looks like to “seek first the kingdom of God” because all else flow out of that. At least all Goodness does.

When I went back to Matthew to read the context of these scriptures in verses 20-34 I was amazed at what I now see.  I have a new understanding and appreciation for these words. After all when God had Adam in the garden he was perfectly clothed and in right standing with His creator. Nothing at all was between the two of them. Please read the scriptures below to prepare for where God’s story is leading us in the coming days.

I pray that we seek first His Kingdom, that we store up treasures for ourselves in heaven, and that we receive our protection for our hearts so that what flows out of it will cover the multitudes. I pray that our eye is unclouded so that we can be the light to disperse the darkness. I give thanks for our provision so that we can be filled with joy, peace, harmony, charity and show how great is our God.

In Christ, let it be done to us as He has desired,

Candace

Matthew 6:20-34 (GWT)

Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal. 21Your heart will be where your treasure is. 22“The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light in you is darkness, how dark it will be! 24“No one can serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25“So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26“Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27“Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? 28“And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. 29But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. 30That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith? 31“Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. 33But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you. 34“So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Breath of Life

Genesis 2:4-7 (Message Translation)


This is the story of how it all started, of Heaven and Earth when they were created.

Adam and Eve

At the time GOD made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground--GOD hadn't yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)--GOD formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive--a living soul!

We learn more about this from Hebrew 4:12 (GWT) God's word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God's word judges a person's thoughts and intentions.

In Isaiah 42:1 (NAS) God speaks of His Soul and Spirit. In the Matthews Gospel this is reiterated. "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.

Then in 1 Corinthians 15:45 (GWT) This is what Scripture says: "The first man, Adam, became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

I will close with Isaiah 26:9 from God’s Word Translation this is my prayer for us all:

With my soul I long for you at night. Yes, with my spirit I eagerly look for you. When your guiding principles are on earth, those who live in the world learn to do what is right.

With the Love of our Christ,
Candace

If you want definitions of spirit and soul they are listed below – Enjoy your Saturday =D

Soul - we translated from the Greek word Psuche which means:

1. breath
        a. the breath of life
             1. the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing
             2. of men

2. that in which there is life

3. the soul - the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)
         a. the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished
             from other parts of the body)

Spirit – we translated from the Greek word Pneuma which means:

1. the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
               a. the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides
                     1. the spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and equal to God, the
                          divine nature of Christ              
                     2. life giving spirit

2. the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one
               a. the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.

3. a movement of air (a gentle blast)
               a. of the wind, hence the wind itself
               b. breath of nostrils or mouth

Stepping Away From Worry

Genesis Chapter 2:1-3 (NAS)

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

When we break down all the Hebrew word that we translated these verses from this states that all the creation was completed AND all authority set in place. All God’s work was put in order and set with the functionality and purpose to be done. It had all been thought through, see to completion and God blessed it by not knowing it was done, finished and taking His rest. Part of this definition is separating or stepping away. Which made me think……?

If God put all power in place and we choose if we live by blessing or curse then all that happens is not necessarily God’s will it is what we “allow” to take place.

• We know a curse with out a cause does not come.
• We know He asks us to choose this day who we will follow.
• We know He asks us to choose life so that we will have rest for our souls.
• We know that we have the authority to choose a blessing or a curse.


This is because He ordained it by the seventh day and said it was so….and so it is.
Amen, Hallelujah, Shalom

Candace

As I was working on this devotion this morning, I remembered the verses to this song that I adore:

If we’ve ever needed you God it’s now, God it’s now. We are desperate for your love reaching down, reaching down. Revive us now. We are on our knees reaching out, reaching up. Hear us now, revive us now. Heal us now.

Then I had a new song in my heart and these were the lyrics with the same tune:

We are desperate for your word – speaking out.

So Today let us hear, Today let us speak…in understanding and knowledge of who He is, what they created with design for His purposes.
Let it be done to us as He wills.

In Jesus name and with His heart I ask in unity with who ever chooses to align with Elohiym. And ask that His kingdom come here on earth this moment.

We know the Angels of God are victorious because His arm is not too short. It is long and strong. His hand of provision is not weak it grasps what is needed whether for protection or provision and it handles all things. This is why we are not fit for the kingdom of God if we put our hand on the plow (or handle) and then remove it or turn back. We are not yet in His image for His purposes. Not because of His choice…it is because He asked us to choose life and live. We choose to remove our hands and choose what is less, comfortable, and produces little.

May it never be said of us…We are the ones that when we have done all to stand and the waves of life are bombarding us to the point we think we cannot possibly take another hit, He grabs us the angels uphold us in His word and we REMAIN!

Now THAT is ALL God, and what a powerful God He is to sustain all things right from the beginning….at the end of the sixth day He had Sweet, Sweet Sweet rest. I pray that you do too…in Him.

Kisses,
C