Tripping on the the Stone of Blame

Today we are going to look at Job’s journey through everything we learned when discussing “Trip, Fall, Fly”.  It will be helpful if you do not have these, to go to the top left search area and just type it in and then allow it to pull up those posts for you.  Each one will help you understand a bit deeper the topics we will be discussing this week.

Last week in groups conversations we looked at these following subjects and we all added our two cents worth:

~Angels are referred to in a masculine gender when written about

~Satan was roaming the earth looking for someone to devour

~Satan like other angels was coming from the North, East, South and West taking charge over God’s words

~Our battle is not with flesh and blood

~The battle is supernatural taking place in the heavenlies

~Christ was tempted by the devil in the desert, when he resisted the devil the angels came to comfort him

We are now going to look at several scriptures about this heavenly battle.  In Ezekiel 28 from the NLT

¹Then this message came to me from the LORD: ²"Son of man, give the prince of Tyre this message from the Sovereign LORD: In your great pride you claim, 'I am a god! I sit on a divine throne in the heart of the sea.' But you are only a man and not a god, though you boast that you are like a god. ³You regard yourself as wiser than Daniel and think no secret is hidden from you. ⁴With your wisdom and understanding you have amassed great wealth—gold and silver for your treasuries. ⁵Yes, your wisdom has made you very rich, and your riches have made you very proud.

⁶"Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you think you are as wise as a god, ⁷I will bring against you an enemy army, the terror of the nations. They will suddenly draw their swords against your marvelous wisdom and defile your splendor! ⁸They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die there on your island home in the heart of the sea, pierced with many wounds. ⁹Will you then boast, 'I am a god!' to those who kill you? To them you will be no god but merely a man! ¹⁰You will die like an outcast at the hands of foreigners. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!"

¹¹Then this further message came to me from the LORD: ¹²"Son of man, weep for the king of Tyre. Give him this message from the Sovereign LORD: You were the perfection of wisdom and beauty. ¹³You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone ^F39 —red carnelian, chrysolite, white moonstone, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald—all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created. ¹⁴I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. ^F40 You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire.

¹⁵"You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you. ¹⁶Your great wealth filled you with violence, and you sinned. So I banished you from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. ¹⁷Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings. ¹⁸You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade. So I brought fire from within you, and it consumed you. I let it burn you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. ¹⁹All who knew you are appalled at your fate. You have come to a terrible end, and you are no more."

When ever we look at “Trip Fall Fly” we align that with “Warnings, Woes and Wisdom”  Since Job is a Wisdom and Poetry book we know that we are studying this to glean wisdom. 

This was not about Job it was about God.  Satan was provoking Him.  He wanted to push God to ruin the poor guy for no good reason. 

Satan’s plan thus far was foiled, he had to regroup.  He left for a time and came back into the presence of God with the Sons of God.  Again God addressed him.  You notice he did not say to Satan, “See I was right, in your face wise guy!”.  God did not even bring it up.  He again asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”  Simple, straightforward and non confrontational isn’t it?  It is Satan that is wanting to challenge God.  He had some time to think about it as he was wandering all over the earth.  He had killed all the places he had to inhabit around Job….or had he?

Today, read Job 2:1-10 which I am posting below.  Think about how vulnerable Job was and who should have been his largest encourager.  Please write your thoughts about all this.

One day when the sons of God came to stand in front of the LORD, Satan the Accuser came along with them. The LORD asked Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From wandering all over the earth.” The LORD asked Satan, “Have you thought about my servant Job? No one in the world is like him! He is a man of integrity: He is decent, he fears God, and he stays away from evil. And he still holds on to his principles. You’re trying to provoke me into ruining him for no reason.”Satan answered the LORD, “Skin for skin! Certainly, a man will give everything he has for his life.  But stretch out your hand, and strike his flesh and bones. I bet he’ll curse you to your face.” The LORD told Satan, “He is in your power, but you must spare his life!”Satan left the LORD’s presence and struck Job with painful boils from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.  Job took a piece of broken pottery to scratch himself as he sat in the ashes. His wife asked him, “Are you still holding on to your principles? Curse God and die!” He said to her, “You’re talking like a godless fool. We accept the good that God gives us. Shouldn’t we also accept the bad?”Through all this Job’s lips did not utter one sinful word.

I pray that we look at our thoughts in reality to who God is: The God of Love.  I ask that we look at the characteristics of satan and give him all the credit he deserves for trying to deceive us of our true knowledge and understanding of how loving and all caring our Father is.  Then ask for forgiveness for not believing in all His promises to love, protect us so that we can receive all the good he has in store for us.  Let’s not take any more harm from Satan okay.

My love to each of you and I pray that you seek Him with abandon of this world, in all your ways acknowledging Him.

In the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord,

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

"Above All Else"

Today all we are going to look at is the Hebrew definitions of our translated words within Genesis 1:20. We will need to understand these as we move forward with our study. I utilize Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance for the Hebrew definitions.

Genesis 1:20 (NAS)



Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens."

1. Waters is Mahyim same as waters the first of Genesis - water, waters, water of the feet, urine. Of Danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment.

2. teem is Sharats – meaning (Qal) to teem, swarm, multiply. To swarm.

3. Swarms is a derivative of sharats – it is Sherets meaning teeming or swarming things, creepers, swarmers - of insects, animals, small reptiles, quadrupeds.

4. Living is Chay meaning living, alive (green/ of vegetation, flowing fresh / of water, lively, active (of man) reviving (of springtime) it means relatives. Life (abstract emphatic sustenance, maintenance. Living thing, animal: life, appetite, revival, renewal. It means community.

5. Creatures is Nephesh meaning soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion. That which breathes – the breathing substance or being. The inner being of man or the soul. The living being as in the life in the blood. The activity of the mind – seat of emotions, passions and activity of the will, activity of the character are all seated here. Dubious.

6. birds is owph meaning flying creatures, fowl, winged insects, birds

7. Fly is uwph meaning to fly, hover, fly about or fly away. It also means to cause to fly or light upon and it can mean to fly to and fro. It has a (Qal) meaning: to cover, be dark, gloom.

8. Above is al this preposition has quiet an amazing depth for such a small word: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against. It means because of, for the sake of, with, for, in spit of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of. It show above, beyond and over in excess (example in abundance to the full till it overflows). It shows pre-eminence of elevation (example not to lean on our own understanding – his thoughts are “higher than our thoughts). It also show multiplicity of addition – in addition to, together with, upon, unto (examples of where God adds to our ordinary to complete us) which is a deeper meaning of being over as in an extension or suspension. It means by adjoining, around next to in proximity (of contiguity) It also is a verb of motion: down upon, on, from, up to, towards, against. (examples God is for us not against us. Who ever is not against God is for Him). It is also a conjunction (conjunction junction what’s your function) to (as a dative?) because, notwithstanding and although.

9. Earth is same as earlier verses (erets) look back for definition.
10. open is paniym meaning face or faces, presence, person, face of: seraphim or cherubim, animals, surface of ground. It is also used as an adverb to describe location examples are before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime as a preposition as well examples of each are: as Christ goes before all thing, God is omnipresent; we are to go before Christ, others before us. As a preposition it means in front, in the face of the enemy, Christ was with God from the beginning. Before there was, there was God.
11. Expanse is raqiya same definition as firmament – look back in notes.
12. Heavens is shawmayhim – interesting that it has the Hebrew work mayhim (we derive waters) as part of it. It is derived from an unused Hebrew word eym meaning lofty. Defined it means: heaven, heavens, sky or visible heavens, as an abode of the stars, as the visible universe or atmosphere, the abode of God.

Read the poem I sent last night. Think about these definitions as you are doing so. Take some time to write about what you are thinking for us to share together Friday.

I leave of with these two verse to ponder:

Proverbs 20:5 A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out.


Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man.


Ecclesiasties 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.


1 Peter 1:12 God revealed to the prophets that the things they had spoken were not for their own benefit but for yours. What the prophets had spoken, the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven, has now made known to you by those who spread the Good News among you. These are things that even the angels want to look into.

I pray that we understand this day what God means when He promised us that the spirit searches all things even the depths of God. I pray that we: look toward the heavens each moment giving praise, that we keep our face set as flint and our eyes set on the things of His Kingdom, that we think on things that are holy, lovely and pure with the a devotion toward all that He is. Remember that the Holy Spirit has made all things known to you so guard your heart above all else, because out of it flows the issues of life. Be well today, because you can be!

With Love to you all...in Christ;
Candace

The Bottom Line on Profit, now this is Good!

John 5:25 (NAS) Truly, Truly, I say to you an hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live.


John 5:25-28 (NAS) “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment…because He is “Son of Man”.

We all love Guarantee’s don’t we? That lets us off the hook, no buyer’s remorse. “I can guarantee this truth: Those who listen to what I say and believe in the one who sent me will have eternal life.”

So today, let’s ponder a couple more things.

The scriptures yesterday stated that the Father doesn’t judge, He entrusted judgment entirely to the Son so that everyone will honor the Son…as they honor the Father. There is so much meaning in that scripture. God loves and trust Christ so much that He doesn’t think Christ will mess up the whole judgment thing. Wow, can you honestly say you would just let your older sibling take over disciplining your younger child - You would be hands off no questions asked?

Well if we look beyond the surface we will see that in this way of thinking we will never get it. In John 5:21 Christ was quoted as saying, “ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes, “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given ALL judgment to the Son.” God does not judge so Christ does not judge. He trusts that Christ will not judge anyone. Believing this we are honoring Christ as we are honoring God.

Christ also says if we listen to what He (Christ) says and believes in God we will have eternal life. Why? – Because He won’t judge you. Why? Because you bypassed death and made it to life. How? God made Christ to take on death. There was a battle between life and death and Christ fought it to the death. But God has life in Himself and gave to the Son life in Himself. What Christ was doing was “executing” judgment which leads to death. In doing this He himself became the bridge of Life for us all to walk across that great divide. He laid across the void where the bridge to Death was. His hands were anchored on one land, nailed into the rocks on that shoreline; His feet were nailed securely on the other rocky shore. We simply have to believe it is secure and take the step, move across. (Go back and read the segments on fear of bridges if you would like more details here)

Then in verse 28 which we will close out “there is Good and there is good”, Christ states Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice and shall come forth; those who did the good to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil to a resurrection of judgment.

If Christ was the executer of judgment it is best to know the Greek word in which we translated it from. Poieo means to make, it is derived from the root word poios which means quality. Poieo means to endow a person or thing with a certain quality (such as life, strength, courage, health etc) and to qualify it at the same time. It also means to appoint or constitute. It is the opposite of a Greek word prasso, which would bring out the means in which something was obtained, (all the steps etc.)

If we believe that Christ executed judgment then that would refer to it being done once for all. It would also make sense that in doing this there is no more great divide. We have now this same life within our self and although we are an independent creation we walk in the same love that God has endowed us with.

Agathos in Greek means good, however it is a good with benevolence it is useful while being profitable. Good if it does not benefit another, is not profitable, it is evil and you have chosen to take a bridge that might look wise, but it leads to an island. Christ states in verse 31 If I bear witness to myself MY testimony is not true. We will pick up here tomorrow.

I pray that “today” we all hear what the spirit of the Lord is telling us, receive it and be healed of our unbelief. Let’s cross this bridge together.

With the Love of Christ,
Candace

Who's is My Mother?

Mark 3:35 (GWT) Whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister and mother.


On mother’s day I think first of all I need to say “happy mother’s day” to all the mom’s of the world. I want to ask you, whether you are male or female, who have you been a mother to? While biological mothers give physical birth any gender can be the spiritual mother. Just as Mary was the earthly carrier of Christ it was God and the Spirit who did the rest of the process. Who’s Mary are you?

God’s word explains many times the fact that we are born into death by our natural birth. But it in Romans it states: Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? When we were baptized into his death, we were placed into the tomb with him. As Christ was brought back from death to life by the glorious power of the Father, so we, too, should live a new kind of life. If we've become united with him in a death like his, certainly we will also be united with him when we come back to life as he did. We know that the person we used to be was crucified with him to put an end to sin in our bodies.

I surely say all this with humility; after all I am a mother myself. The last thing I desire to think of is that I gave my children life only to die. But that is the truth, we all know it..from the first breath we take we are one step closer to taking our last. God gave us, through Him, a human life time to save their eternal life. He even tell us to keep our authority in check when he tells us “The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple.”

I love being a mother, I love my mother, but even today as I celebrate this – I give thanks to God for knowing the truth and seek to give thank to many unmentioned mothers today.

Everything is from him and by him and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen!

With Love,
Candace

Ministery in Word

Things Unshaken – Part 4

那不被震动的 – 第四篇

Hebrews 12:26-28 (NKJV)
希伯來書12:26-28
but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

当时他的声音震动了地，但如今他应许说：再一次我不单要震动地，还要震动  天。这再一次的话，是指明被震动的，就是受造之物都要挪去，使那不被震动的常存。所以我们既得了不能震动的国，就当感恩，照神所喜悦的，用虔诚、敬畏的心事奉神。

Last 2 weeks we examined 4 of the 10 aspects of receiving the unshakable kingdom thatwill remain. Now we continue with the next two.

上两周我们察看了我们领受那不被震动，常存的这国十个方面之四方面。现在我们要看下两方面。

5. BY BEING REDEEMED THROUGH CHRIST
五、 藉着基督得救赎

Let’s look at another aspect of receiving the kingdom. According to Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians, it is God the Father “who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col 1:12-14) So this is God’s process of rescuing us from the dominion of darkness and putting us into the kingdom of light: God the Father qualifies us through His sovereignty, and God the Son redeems us through His blood, to provide us with the forgiveness of sins.

让我们观察领受国度的另外一个方面。按照使徒保罗给歌罗西信徒的信，那是父神「叫我们能与众圣徒在光明中同得基业。他救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里；我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免。」〔西1:12-14〕所以这就是神救我们脱离黑暗的管辖，把我们放进光明的国里的过程：父神照他的主权叫我们能得基业，和圣子藉着他的血救赎我们，使我们的罪得赦免。

Ministry in Word/
真理之言

Today we must give thanks to God for choosing us, saving us, and forgiving us, for we are sinners not deserving God’s grace.

今天我们必须因为神拣选我们，救我们和赦免我们而感谢神，因为我们是罪人不配得神的恩惠。

6. BY ACCEPTING CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
六、 透过接受基督的义

God’s salvation plan for us comes with no cost to us, demands no work from us, so is our God a permissive God who sets aside His law and indulges His creatures? Certainly not. Jesus declared during His Sermon on the Mount that He came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them (Mt 5:17). He also said, “unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:20). The scribes and Pharisees followed the law to its letters, yet Jesus questioned the adequacy of their righteousness. We are to have righteousness far greater than theirs. How then can anyone receive the kingdom? The answer is, it is only by accepting Christ’s righteousness that we are counted as righteous before God. After we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, our sins are cleansed in the blood of Jesus and we, the sinners, take on the righteousness of Jesus who has no sin at all. This is how
we are justified by God.

神对我们的救赎计划是免费的，不要求我们费力做什麽的，那麽我们的神是否是一位纵容的神，废掉他的律法来放任他的被造物呢？肯定不是。耶稣在他的登山宝训中宣称他来不是要废掉律法，乃是要成全〔太5:17〕。他又说，「你们的义若不胜於文士和法利赛人的义，断不能进天国。」〔太5:20〕文士和法利赛人守律法守到它的仪文细节，但耶稣说他们的义仍不足够。我们须要有远超过他们的义。那麽有谁可以领受国度呢？答案是只有藉着接受基督的义我们在神面前才被算为义。我们接纳耶稣为我们的救主以後，我们的罪在耶稣的血中洗净，我们这些罪人就得到完全无罪的耶稣的义。这就是我们被神称义的方法。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

For those of us who have received God’s kingdom, let us give Him thanks and praise.For those of us whom the Holy Spirit is calling to enter His kingdom through His Son Jesus, may we repent of our sin and receive Jesus into our life.

对我们中已领受神的国的人，让我们感谢和赞美他。对我们中圣灵正在呼唤藉他儿子耶稣去进入他的国的人，愿我们悔改我们的罪和接受耶稣进入我们的生命中。

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

The True Wizard of Oz

Isaiah 53: 1-3 (GWTW)
Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD’s power been revealed? 2 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. 3 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.


We looked yesterday at why Dorothy, Tinman, Scarecrow and Lion were seeking out the Wizard of Oz.  They were following this road encouraging each other because he could fill them up in area's they felt they were lacking.  We all know that he had no magical powers and that none were needed.  The fabulous four were fabulous all the while. 

As with what we have been looking through over the past year, I see the truth in what God what showing me as I searched the roadways of my life through His eyes.  "The answer is the sojourning; the question and endless plight"  Today I want to look at the Wizard and ask this quesiton "What was He THINKING!"

Seriously, who in their right mind puts themself in that type of position.  Who really has anything to say better than the next person - and best questions EVER...Why in the world would you listen to him?????   Isn't that the reason he knew he had to hide?  He knew he had nothing to say any better than the next person.  Look at the kingdom he had built.  He knew it was a farce, he was a farce.  The poor guy got so parinoid that he had to close himself off from everyone layer, by layer, by layer.  He had to move from wise people so that his secret would not be discovered.  This is where our scripture for today enters.

If even Christ did not lead us to himself but to something beyond himself, shouldn't that be our first clue when seeking wisdom from someone.  Who are they showing you?  God or themself?  If they are the image you see beware!  It states that he had no form or majesty that would make us look at him.  He never tries to "take the glory".  He desire for us to "give him the glory". 

That is love, doing something for someone else and not looking for the self gratification in any form.  It is purely because you care.  Seek that type of help, widsom, and support.  It will lead to to the "true wizard of Oz"

I pray that you all find what you are seeking...and that what you are seeking is the Kingdom of God.  I pray that you find whom you are in Christ along the yellow brick road and share with others all the way.

In Christ,
Candace

Ministry in Word

Things Unshaken – Part 1

那不被震动的 – 第一篇

Hebrews 12:26-28 (NKJV)
希伯來書12:26-28

but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also  heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
当时他的声音震动了地，但如今他应许说：再一次我不单要震动地，还要震动天。这再一次的话，是指明被震动的，就是受造之物都要挪去，使那不被震动的常存。所以我们既得了不能震动的国，就当感恩，照神所喜悦的，用虔诚、敬畏的心事奉神。

Recently there had been major earthquakes in the world: first it was Haiti, and then it was Chile. Then I heard about the earthquake in the southern part of Taiwan. A couple of years ago it happened in China with great devastation. Of course, we are anticipating the “BIG ONE” in California; some had also speculated the next BIG ONE in the U.S. to be somewhere in Tennessee.
最近世上发生几宗重大地震：首先是海地，跟着是智利，然後我听到在台湾南部的地震。两年多前在中国的地震产生了严重的破坏。当然我们仍在等预料中加州的「巨大地震」；有人亦猜测美国下一个「巨大地震」会发生在田纳西州某地点。

People who had been in earthquakes said that it sounded like the coming of a freight train. I have never experienced an earthquake, but I can imagine it is a very scary experience. In a major earthquake buildings collapse, roadways buckle, bridges fall, and everything is shaken. There are different ideas on where in a building is the safest place during an earthquake. But I think when everything is shaken, when no part of the structure is stable, nowhere can be safe.
曾经经历过地震的人说它来势凶凶，听起来犹如火车。我从来没有经历过地震,但我可以想像那是多恐怖的事。在大地震中楼房倒塌，马路崩裂，桥梁掉下，所有东西都被震动。对于在地震中楼宇那里最安全有不同的看法。不过我认为当所有东西都被震动，结构的任何部份都是不稳固的时候，那里都不安全。

When I think about physical earthquakes in this world, it reminds me of the Bible where Jesus told His disciples that we would hear about many earthquakes when the end time is near. Are we in the end time?Nobody can say for sure, and Jesus told His disciples not to speculate when He would return at the end time. But for sure the world is shaken up more recently than in the past. However, in the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, verses 26 to 28, the Bible says something about earthquake like this “but now He has promised saying,‘Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.’ Now this,  ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” In that day, not only the earth will be shaken, but also heaven. Now that is a great shake up. Everything under the sun will be shaken, and stars will be falling from the sky. It will be unlike any earthquake we know of. The purpose of this shake up is such that the things that are being shaken, which are the created things, may be removed and only the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
当我想到这世上的天然地震时，就让我想到圣经中耶稣告诉他的门徒说末世时我们会听到许多地震的消息。我们是否在末世中呢？没有人能肯定，而耶稣吩咐他的门徒不要揣测他在末世什麽时候再临。但世界被震动最近肯定比过去多。无论如何，在圣经中希伯来书12章第26至28节如此论及地震：「但如今他应许说：再一次我不单要震动地，还要震动天。这再一次的话，是指明被震动的，就是受造之物都要挪去，使那不被震动的常存。所以我们既得了不能震动的国，就当感恩，照神所喜悦的，用虔诚、敬畏的心事奉神。」在那日不单地要被震动，还要天被震动。这是何等大的震荡呢。天下各物都要被震动，星星都要从天空掉下来。它将会与我们所知的地震不同。而这震荡的目的是要使被震动的，就是受造之物都被挪去，使那不被震动的常存。

What are the things that will be shaken and removed, and what are the things to remain? Verse 28 has identified one thing which cannot be shaken, that is, a kingdom. This is referring to the kingdom of Jesus, the kingdom of God. So from this we can understand that the things that will not be shaken and will remain belong to the kingdom, which we as children of God are receiving. Let’s look at 10 different aspects of our receiving this kingdom.
什麽东西被震动，被挪去，什麽东西不被震动而能常存呢？第28节指明一样不能震动的东西，就是一个国度。这里指的是耶稣的国，神的国。所以从这里我们可以了解那不被震动的，常存的是属于国度的，那是我们作为神的儿女来领受的。让我们来看我们领受这国的十个不同的方面。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we remain stable in God’s love and promises, knowing that God’s kingdom is unshakable.
愿我们在神的爱和应许中保持稳固，知道神的国是不被震动的。



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

You Have Got to Get Back Up!

Dear Father,

Please forgive us of our many sins.. daily. Strengthen us, Father, so that we might not....will not stumble. Keep our eyes so tightly locked on you that all else fades from view. Show us our shortcomings so that we allow you to be even more present in this place. Allow our life to be totally consumed by your will, so that your will is increased to the point that it radiates your kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven.

Thank you for our provision, our abundance in the overflow of health, finances, relationships and peace. Let us, above all else to exhibit your joy, so that others see your face in a very real way - no matter what we are facing.

In Jesus Name, I pray this for myself and for everyone else lifting their voice in harmony as a blanket to cover all your creation Father; Amen.

Candace

ABLE To Love

" Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41

There is something we need to understand - it took me a very long time to realize this, and even though I now understand, it is sometime a struggle to exhibit true patience when living this out. With that being said; We must truly understand that being able to love another person does not mean that the other person is "able" to love us. Not that they do not desire to, or even believe that they do and possibly even think they are doing it well.

In one of my journals I was talking to God about this trying desperately to understand my pain, this is what I wrote:

I just don't know how to protect my heart Lord.......show me.
I only seem to desire to reach out and allow myself to be available...to get hurt.
Help me Father, to reach out to you instead, but help me understand all this.

I remembered when God was showing me back through a time when I was crying out to Him over a situation. He related to me that in actuality ...I was hurting myself because the person was not desiring to reach toward me....yet I kept reaching toward the person. Metaphorically the person kept slapping my hands away, to keep away from me . As I continued journaling these memories to God, I realized " This person wants to stand in my presence and fight me off watching me get frustrated and hurt, not because they wanted me to leave - it was only about power.  But they were not capable of caring about me, because it was all about them; they took up too much of their own field of vision."

God reminded me, " That is what Satan does he comes to destroy, just remember that is not of you....you did not cause that to happen."

My reply was this " So, help me God, because his words are deceptive." "You told us to guard ourselves against Satan's schemes....so lead me, instruct me, grow me in your wisdom and peace. I know you overcame more than what I am dealing with. Give me your full armor and show me how to be a mighty warrior through all that YOU are. I am not one that will shrink back to the destruction of my soul. I am a child of the Most High God!

Our Father created us and all is His. He needs us to take our place in His lineage to show others what all this means. He needs us to show others why it is so important to choose Life, to obey and follow.  They need to know how to rest in His peace; allowing Him to bring all to pass and His completion to be brought in."

After journaling I prayed: " I adore you Father and I will obey, I will follow. You have said it is so and I claim your precious words. Let it be as you have said "I AM".

Gods still, peaceful voice resounded in me casting all confusion away, " Fall on your knees, bow before Me". " and when you have done all to stand.....Then STAND in my strength"

From all this what I realized was that Satan was utilizing my and the other persons thoughts / actions to  stand in our presence and cause chaos. What God desires is for us to allow Him to utilize our mind and actions enabling Him to stand in our presence ushering in peace. He promises that His truth brings light into darkness and that all opposing forces must flee when He is in power.

Let us bring this to remembrance whenever the spiritual battle lines are drawn. God is not the defeated foe.....it is Satan. We are children of the Most High God and He said ALL victory is HIS...that means we win all battles. Don't look for your personal win, Look for God's win. They look very different. Allow God to train you up so that you will always recognize the enemy in your midst. 

Tomorrow we will go deeper into what the foe looks like, acts like and how to utilize your God given power to defend yourself.

 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.Galatians 5:1

With Love,
Candace