Are You Asking The Right Questions by Kerry Skinner

Psalms 23:2 ~He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

Dear Sojourner,

It is a difficult life we are asked to live at times. To grow in liberty, awareness of His good please toward us and to not use our freedom to harm our self or others can be hard to comprehend at times. We are humans, created to use our complex brains to create new ideas, analyze, discern and yet give away some of the very things most precious to us;  whether metaphorical or physical.  So of course we have questions.........

During my studies, Kerry Skinner's material had some sturdy thoughts which I felt may help someone.  It is posted below.

                                                                        □~º~□

Have you ever asked the wrong question? Maybe you thought you needed the answer to a certain question, but you found out when you received the answer that it was not what you hoped the answer would be. You may have asked legitimate questions but those questions were not relevant to the situation. It is easy to ask the wrong questions.The Psalmist wrote and asked many questions about life.

 In Psalm 44:1, the writers reflect back on days of old for their source of help. They were headed in the wrong direction as they reflected on the past: “…our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, in days of old."

1.. Looking to the past for your answer may throw you off course.

Many Christians look to the past to seek an answer for their present day life. It may sound like this, “God, I made a great commitment to You ten years ago. That was the greatest year of my Christian growth. I am depending on my past experience to get me through today.” It is wonderful you had growth ten years ago, but focusing on the past throws you off course. “Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things behind] is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62, AMP). You must be refreshed day by day!

2. Looking to God guides you to the right perspective.

It was not by their sword that brought them victory–it was by God’s right hand that they were delivered. Can we depend upon our physical strength, willingness, and might to accomplish Kingdom work? Absolutely not.

I don’t trust my mind, power, nor my will to get through today. Our position, money, skills, talents, and abilities will not bring satisfaction to life. No matter how much you attain, it is never enough. Do we depend on God? Surely we would not say, “God, move over to the side, I’m in control of this day.” But, what you do next will reveal whether you believe more in self than God.

We must live by the power and the name of Christ. He will trample our foes. It is only through His strength that we go forward! Maybe you need the freshness you once experienced  with God. Look to God and He will guide you to have the right perspective. God’s presence gives a sense of being loved.

Isn’t it more important to see the love of God more than any kind of physical manifestation? The love of God is what revives your spirit! When you are in the midst of a crisis, wouldn’t you rather see the love of your family than receive a physical gift from someone? Wouldn’t you rather feel love and acceptance? Of course.

They had the right perspective–God had delivered them. But, right after seeing the hand of God they were about to ask the wrong question. This is so easy to do. We misapply truth sometimes because we are so desperate to find out what can help us–now! Our focus moves away from relationship to solutions. But, when you know God loves you, your perspective on life helps you ask the right questions.

3. You either give into God for everything or you give into self.

The people had the right perspective by acknowledging that God gave them victory over their enemies. They even said they would praise God all day long. Then here it comes, “But…You have cast us off and put us to shame, and You do not go out with our armies” (Psalm 44:8, NKJV).

To praise God for everything or to complain that things weren’t going their way–that was the question. They had to choose God for everything or they had to chose themselves. That choice must be faced every day. It’s a miserable life for a Christian to try to go with God part of the time and the rest of the time to proceed in your own strength. You can do it a while. But how long can you keep it up and have real peace?

In verse 9 they said, “But You have cast us off and put us to shame, and You do not go out with our armies.” Have you ever made those kind of statements? “God you are blessing others, but you’re not blessing me!” This sounds like a disgruntled person, doesn’t it? Ever been that way before?

4. Doing the Right Thing–But Things Are Getting Worse!

“…because of the enemy and the avenger.All this has come upon us; but we have not forgotten You, nor have we dealt falsely with Your covenant” (Psalm 44:17, NKJV).

If you are ashamed because your enemies seem to be gaining a victory, then the focus is not on God, it is on your performance! Why would you be ashamed when your enemies are overcoming you if you are doing the right thing? Do you believe that God’s people can do right things and things not go well for them? Absolutely!

God may not deliver you out of your trouble, but he will deliver you through your trouble. God had an unfailing love for them even in the midst of their trouble. The people said their heart had not turned against God and their feet had not strayed from His path. Yet, they asked, “Why are we being crushed. Why is this happening?”

I have asked that question–but it is the wrong question. When you listen to the answer from God, you realize that your focus must change. The key to the answer is in verse 22, “Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). That is the key! The right question is, “Are you going to live for Christ no matter what?”

If you are persecuted for righteousness sake, it will bring joy not sadness. If you are suffering, please make sure that it is for righteousness sake. God will come to the rescue at the proper time. His timing is not always our timing. It is for His sake that we must be willing to go through anything. That is the proper perspective. Stay with God and trust Him for every moment of every day. We must trust God for each moment. We must be willing to face death all day long. Death to what? Death to self. Put aside self and trust completely in God. You must go all the way for God or all the way for you. Without God we are nothing. Without Christ, we have no physical strength. We are a simple breath away from eternity. Our minds and wills are weak. The sooner we come to understand that, the quicker our relief comes over the weakness of our flesh. Exalting Christ results in death to self and an abundant and full life in Him.

We must trust in God’s unfailing love so that before the crisis comes we recognize our strength is in Him!

COPYRIGHT © 2013, kerryskinner.com

....What Was The Subject Again?

Can you ever recall a time when you thought you were with the program, only to find that apparently everyone else is off on another topic?  Sometimes I feel that way when understanding who God is or more accurately with clearly comprehending my truths verses His truths.  I can always find the answers and clarify His view points if I will simply pause and seek Him. 

 

Let's look at this from another angle:

 



"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 the worthless.....elementary things which YOU desire......to be enslaved all over AGAIN?" Galatians 4:9

 

" It was for FREEDOM that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm...do not be SUBJECTED ........AGAIN...to a yoke of SLAVERY!" 

How do we discern pleasure from pain?  We have been taught trained and now tout so many mixed messages of "good" things.  No doubt, we DO doubt..... the reliability of our receptors toward accuracy.

For those of you who believe we were created in the image of God: in His likeness, male and female, do you believe that He then is relate-able to our likeness in many ways?  For instance:

We have a spirit and a soul ~ does God?

We take pleasure or emotionally feel pleasure ~ does God?

We experience pain and react ~ does God?

Without knowing these things, how CAN we know what we believe?  Our beliefs will contradict each other, we will not know who we are, what we look like, what defines us.  No doubt our character is seen to be as the incredible fool.  If we lean on our own understanding, the tiny bits of truth that we can fit into a picture; then the only definition of God we have is of our own assumptions.  We then are limiting who we are capable of maturing into based on our small picture. 

When I parked on the words: now that you have come to know God; or rather to BE KNOWN BY God, it was as if the veil was finally lifted.  All the fog and chaos cleared for me.....it resonated and I GOT IT!

The law showed us who God was - perfectly: holy, lovely, just and the justifier.  But Christ showed us that God desired to know us; in order that we could have an intimate relationship WITH Him. 

Just as when a brides face is seen as her veil is lifted, so too are each of us face to face....finally in His presence.  Can you imagine the joy and excitement as He finally is able to look into our eyes!  When we come into His presence through Christ, we no longer have to perceive Him from the outside, as a stranger only knowing things about Him.  Think of it like this:

We can know many things about someone like Julia Roberts, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Downey Jr or The Clinton's but they do not know us.  While we do have a one sided, unrealistic relationship to them, we probably would never be allowed to enter their home - unless we crawled through security or encroached their personal space.  This is what I envision when Christ speaks of His sheep knowing His voice and the one who crawls over to enter the sheep fold. 

But Christ came that we would have entry, so why do we doubt?  I cannot speak for anyone else, but as for me, it was because I was more focused on knowing everything about God and forgetting that He wanted me to focus on Him KNOWING ME.    When I look at what I can know about God, I have to look at the law, but when I face the law I see all my flaws and shriek out as Paul did "O, wretched man that I am!"

It is in that very moment which I realize it is not about who I am.....it is about "I AM!"

If you have never read "SEE" please take a moment to click the link.  I love this and when I wonder about the who am I equation, I immediately find the answer :)

My prayers are that you / we relate with others what you see, as you see yourself through His eyes.  It will be such a beautiful sight!

All for His glorious name sake,
Kisses,
Candace

 

© Candace Huffmaster 2013, All Copy Rights Reserved
Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc°

Are you Going for the Ask or the Rip Cord?

Good Morning  - You all asked me to find the entry about the parachute, so here it is!  It fits in nicely with where we closed out in Deeply.  It also is a wonderful perspective for walking into Honestly.  I have not been able to locate the one about "standing in the right place".  We will use this one for expounding on ASK.

Today all we are going to do is define ASK and allow you to write about YOUR rip cord experiences...isn't that going to be FUN (dont' think I don't see you all rolling your eyes at me - ha ha)

Just give it a shot......lean into the free fall....it'll all be GREAT! Not I, but HE promises.

We know that God said, "My people perish for lack of knowledge".  We also know that the holy spirit is here to enlighten us on all things that we ask for enlightenment on.  So let's be sure we know what that means:

In the Greek - aiteo generally means to ask, beg, call for , crave, desire, require.  It is not a root word however, where it is derived from is uncertain.  However when we compare it to another Greek word which has similar usage - punthanomai - we can see that it is more rigid than to imply questioning;  it is a demand for something due. 

This is one reason we must be cautious when we state we will do something.  We are accountable to come through when it is called upon to do so.  We must be clear when we have doubts as to our ability to come through.....we are accountable to God first and second to man. 

We discussed free will and coercion a few weeks ago.  It is wrong to use the whole - how to get others to do what you want and like it philosophy that is promoted in sales, management etc these days.  So if you attempt to bully people "Stop It".  It's wrong!  (I am telling myself that as well...just so ya know) 

I pray we all get REAL honest with ourselves.  It will help us LOVE loving others - and enjoy relationships with God first, others second.....and yes, ourselves last.  Within righteous boundaries - we're getting there!

Kisses,

Candace

Journal entry for Sept 8^th 2008

Matthew 11:25-30

Specifically 29 and 30 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble  in heart and you shall find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and My load is light.

Today I was speaking with a friend and I told her that all I knew was that I was doing my best everyday with diligence and faith.  I knew that God knew my needs on the horizon and I could focus on my needs or embrace the day.  God has said that he has plans for us; plan for us to prosper not plans for our destruction.  We are here to fight the good fights of each day and when we have done all to do that to rest in our confidence in Him.  He told us to have faith and to lay things at His feet.  To pick up His yoke and follow Him because His yoke is light and He goes before us in All things to show us the way.  I said that is all I have.  She said well honey that is all you need. 

I told my friend it was as if each day I strap on my parachute of faith in God through Christ and JUMP.  At first I am enjoying the free fall and enjoying the view but then I see the ground and I panic. I pull the rip cord as I focus on the ground and start saying “come on,  come on, release already”  then impatiently I question can’t you see the ground  Come on Already I am going to be dust in a minute” 

I start focusing on how unable I am to do anything about the situation and lose sight of How Able my God is and how much He simply wants me to enjoy every second of the free fall and trust Him.

That is how He does it and That is just the way I fall.

I am going to finish this free fall so that God is glorified and I can thank Him for such a Rush.

Tomorrow I am going to hold onto this whole experience, so that I enjoy it from jump to landing.

In Christ, with His love

Candace

Am I a Klepto?

Continuing on our topic of Yokes – what are we truly tied up to? What is harnessing us? You will know when you expose your thoughts by answering the following questions:

 

What are you protecting?

 

Your Love exposes the truth. Fear causes our loving arms to wrap around stuff / people / ideas forming a defense to keep what we cherish from being stolen. Liberty, generosity, trust, faith and love causes our righteous arms to support, protect from harm and yet free whatever is encircled by our care.

 

At times we deceive ourselves by not looking at this truth. We live such defensive lives we are not aware of the conversations going on in our own mind. Many of us are so fearful we constantly remind ourselves of how others fall short and that we are only doing what we must do because of their brokenness. While there is a mustard seed of truth in what we speak because ALL of us are a mess, it is important to remember: nothing can ever be taken from us when we are ready to give in a time of need. After all – we own nothing, every good and perfect things comes from Him.

 

Also, we must be aware that there are many times when we ourselves create crisis because we will not get up and do things ourselves. WE place expectancy on others in our midst to do the work for us. We choose not to look at what we are doing to them – and call it an unconscious mistake.

 

Ephesians 4:28, God lovingly took the time to tells us exactly what this looks like so that we may discern and take positive action to correct this as we transform through the renewing of our minds.

 

Thieves must quit stealing and, instead, they must work hard. They should do something good with their hands so that they’ll have something to share with those in need.

The original Greek word in the scripture above is klepto and yes it is where kleptomania is derived from. This condition does not really have anything to do with the value of items or even the act of stealing. It stems from mood disorders, addictive personalities or insecurity / lack of control. It is not thought out or planned it is more of an unconscious compulsion.

God explains how to get on track:

• Get conscious
• Look at what you have
• Look for ways to do good for others
• Get busy doing good for others

Think back about how Jesus related to people. Did he fix their discomfort by filling their lives with material comforts? No, he gave them truth, told them how to obtain what they needed. But when people had no other resource and it was a crisis he did give them physical things. 

 

I pray for God to keep our eyes on where we alone need to grow and being accountable for our own actions and walk so that we can be a lovely catalyst for tranformation of our communities.

 

With Love,

Candace

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Radical Cowboy

Cowbody Take Me Away! 

Honestly, I used to sing this song and pray that God would come and take me away - out of my circumstances and stand me in the middle of a beautiful field where all I could see was His glory shining all around me.  I NEEDED to see His face.  I Needed to feel the wind under my wings for just a moment of freedom.  I felt like I was in a sea on concrete I don't even remember if I felt like any of my limbs could break out and move.  But now when I hear this song it makes my heart jump because He did show up, and He did liberate me - but I had ALOT of strength training to do in order to fly.  So let's celebrate our training, lets see it in it's reality.  Nobody likes it!! Seriously - nobody. But we are not nobodies are we?  WE are somebodies! 

"Cowboy take me away fly this girl as high as you can into the wild blue
Set me free, oh I pray, closer to heaven above and closer to you....
Closer to you...." Dixie Chicks Lyrics

http://youtu.be/yucqyRaB8bA

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 (GWT)

We now understand that freedom is the ability to not be bound, to have made it out of our turbulence so that we CAN help another person. I want us to be sure we understand what we are actually free “from”. What does He mean when he says “do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” ?

2 Corinthians 3:17,18 states:
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

To understand what the true meaning of this statement was we have to look at two Greek works that this is derived from:

Duleiua: meaning servitude, dependence. It means to be in the position of a servant and to act accordingly.  If we are serving we are subject to their authority and must take their direction.  It also means to be reduced to bondage under someone and deprived of freedom. Metaphorically it means to be a slave to something - such as our pleasures.

 Doulos: or the state of Doulos is defined as a slave or servant.  It is one who is in a permanent relationship of servitude to another.  The difference is that this persons will is altogether consumed in the will of the other.  It means to bind.

To understand these things helps us look at our thoughts with more clarity.  God tells us that we are His bond slave.  A bond slave is  a slave that has been given their freedom but chooses to stay with their master because his master treats him so well.  Yet there is always the understanding that the slave is free to go at any time.  This is a relationship based on love and respect - not guilt and punishment.

Is there something a habit, poor self control, bad memories keeping you from being all you know God created you to become?  Maybe you have freely chose to stay in an environment where you did not have authority over yourself who allowed this type of respect - and now you do not feel the liberty to leave.  You know all the pain that comes with leaving due to their authority and control over your life.  What can you do other than panic and loose hope?

Today just write about the "masters in your life"  some of them are figments of our imagination.  Some of them are ghosts of our past whom we have never walked away from.  Some of them are still very real.  We are not going to move today.  Today we are going to be still and know that ultimately we are bond slaves to the Mighty Lord God Almighty and He will always show up at just the right time to rescue and deliver us.  He is faithful and true and He promised to show us the way out.  But we have to be still and listen.  His voice is not like the others, it is gentle, loving, kind, patient and ALWAYS encouraging us to keep going - keep believing and remember how much he loves us.

God I pray that you show us with unveiled faces where we allow ourselves to serve another master; where we have unintentionally put a God in your place. We know that the Lord is the Spirit and your spirit searches the depths of all things even you. Forgive us, restore us. We ask to see clearly and to allow all that you are to transform us, step by step into the same image; from glory to glory till we radiate as does the Lord. Let us permeate His glory into this place.

In Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Candace

Get outside today, kick some dirt around, dance like you believe your Heavenly, Radical Cowboy is coming any day on His magnificent white stallion to take you away - 'cause He is ya know!

Are We Stones Comprising The Pathway, Or An Awkward One That Make Someone Trip?

As I was reading the devotion for this morning, different scriptures kept popping into my mind.  The verses in 1 Corinthians 10 where we are being implored to learn from the experiences of the God’s people as they were being led by Moses. “They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them, and that rock was Christ.” and “We shouldn’t put the Lord to the test as some of them did.” 

Think about when Christ was in the desert being tempted.  Satan suggested that Christ turn the stone into bread.  Christ knew he had to trust the love of God, not test Him.  He followed that by stating God’s word, “Man cannot live on bread alone but from every word that precedes from the mouth of God”.

I have often pondered and conversed with God about the reason Moses didn’t get to enter the promised land but only see if from afar.  God wanted him to exemplify that we are to converse through relationship, love.  Striking that rock was a complex reaction.  It was based on Moses’ frustration with the people so he was lashing out.  He wanted to demonstrate power….his power or Gods?”  Christ is our rock, through Him we are delivered, rescued, saved eternally for relationship.  What if symbolized Moses striking Christ himself?  If it appears that we are forcing God to give us what He was wanting to freely give us, I can only imagine how that must make God feel.  There is no liberty or joy in that.  God tells us where there is Christ there is liberty.  I think that Moses conversing with the rock, relating the dilemma and his concerns would have been pretty cool.  That being said, I cannot begin to wrap my mind around all the pressures that Moses must have been under.  So I am going to just thank God for getting him through it all and allowing Moses to see the promise even if from a distance.  Moses must have been elated knowing God had delivered them so he could get finally get some rest.

I pray that we not tolerate insecurity and pride, but that we allow His spirit to transform us as we walk through out the emotional reactions we subject ourselves, others and HIs kingdom to.  May God  be glorified as we trust in Him to provide as He sees fit and in His timing.  Let us exemplify this rock as our alter place where we lay our ways of accomplishing things down and do it the way God has requested, so that His life may pour out and all may come to the knowledge of His saving grace.

Enjoy this day….it is a gift directly from His hand.  And you didn’t even have to force Him to give it to you, did you?

Kisses,

Candace

Management By Force

– by So Hillman TGIF

"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink." - Numbers 20:8

Moses and the people had been traveling for days without water. The people were thirsty. They were complaining and grumbling about their plight, and Moses became the object of their complaining. Moses sought the Lord for wisdom on how to handle the situation. The Lord instructed him to speak to the rock and water would flow. This would be a sign that God was still in control, that Moses was still the leader, and that God was their provider.

When it came time to speak to the rock, Moses' disgust with the people became so great that instead of speaking to the rock, he angrily addressed the people and then struck the rock twice. The water came out, in spite of Moses' disobedience. But the Lord was not pleased with Moses.

This was a time for Moses to operate at a higher level. No longer was he called to touch things with his staff to perform miracles; it was a time for him to speak to the problem. His very words would have changed the situation. Moses' staff represented two things-his physical work as a shepherd of sheep and his spiritual work as a shepherd of the people. God was calling him to move into a new dimension of using his staff. Up to now, Moses had always been commanded by God to touch something to perform the miracle. Now it was time to speak God's word to the problem.

However, Moses made the mistake many of us make. He used his instrument with force to accomplish something for God. He took something God wanted to be used in a righteous manner and used it in an unrighteous manner. He used force to solve the problem. This disobedience cost Moses his right to see the Promised Land.
Have you ever been tempted to use your power, skill, and ability to force a situation to happen, perhaps even out of anger? God is calling us to use prayer to move the face of mountains. The force of our ability is not satisfactory. God is calling each of us to a new dimension of walking with Him. Pray that God will give you the grace to wait on Him and not take matters into your own hands. Then you will not be in jeopardy of failing to move into the Promised Land in your life.

Add-On's

Good Sunday Morning Everyone!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With a Holy Kiss,
Candace

Ministry in Word

Freedom

Galatians 5:1
加拉太書5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
基督释放了我们，叫我们得以自由。所以要站立得稳，不要再被奴仆的轭挟制。

 

It is for freedom to have an abundant life that Christ has set us free. Unless a grain falls to the ground and dies, it cannot bear a crop of plenty. Unless one dies to oneself, the new life cannot flourish. In Christ I am free to be me, the person by God’s original design. I am free to grow, free to mature into the full measure of Christ in me.
基督释放了我们，叫我们得以自由去获取丰富的生活。除非一颗种子落在地上死了，它不可能长出丰满庄稼。除非一个人对自己死，新的生命不可能茂盛。在基督里我有自由来活出我，就是神原本设计的人。我有自由去增长，有自由成熟，满有在我里面基督的身量。

Even after tasting the freedom from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites still wanted to return to Egypt when they came across obstacles in their journey to the Promise Land, a land where they could live out their full potential as a free people. They would rather live their old life of familiar suffering than a new life of exciting opportunities. Similarly, in our spiritual journey of faith we will encounter setbacks. Do we want to give up our new found freedom after our new birth in Christ and return to the bondage of religious formality and the letter of the law? Apostle Paul thinks not. He said we must stand firm to resist that tendency to live in the law of death (Ro 8:2) than in the law of life. It is in the law of life that we will find freedom to love God with all our heart, mind, and spirit and obey Him as well as to love others as we love ourselves.
在尝过从埃及奴隶生话解放的自由以后，当他们在到应许之地的旅程中遇到了障碍，以色列人仍然想回到埃及，放弃他们可能充份活出作为一个自由民族的可能。他们宁可活在熟悉的痛苦的老生活而非带有兴奋机会的新生活。同样，在我们信心的属灵旅途上我们将遇到挫折。们是否想要在我们的新诞生以后放弃我们新找到在基督里的自由而回到宗教形式和律法条文的捆绑？使徒保罗认为不能。他说我们必须坚定抵抗去活在死亡之律(罗8：2)而不活在生命之律的那个倾向。我们在生命之律中要找到尽心，尽意，尽性爱我们的神和服从他与及爱其他人如己的自由。

Lord, circumcise our hearts instead of our flesh. Let our love for you grow and motivate our every act in life.
主啊，在我们的心里行割礼而不是在我们的肉体上行。让我们对您的爱增长和成为我们在生活中每次行动的动机。

Lord, continue to draw us close to you and empower us to live out your Spirit in our life. Demonstrate your freedom in us! Amen.
主啊，继续使我们接近您和加力使我们在我们的生命中活出您的灵。在我们身上展示您的自由! 阿门。

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

Life Verses Knowledge of Good and Evil

Genesis 2:8,9 (The Message)


Then GOD planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. GOD made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.

When we really sit with each verse of Genesis we can see how thoughtful God is in every way. Even when creating the earth and it's environment he left nothing to chance. Until He created man to care for things he did not create the garden. After He created the garden of His delight, He then placed Man in it. Notice that this was not man's choice. Just as God placed the stars in the sky to be signs and wonders, markers for time and seasons, He also put Man in his destined environment.

With that being said, God still allowed man the choice of living within His place of delight or in control and left to his own devices. Man chose Knowledge of Good and Evil over Abundance Life.
We will discuss this in more detail later on in Genesis.

Today let's praise God for His pupose and plan, for our salvation and deliverance through Christ. Let's share of our hope from disaster and how there is rest due to His lamb. Let's shout with joy that He is risen, His life is liberating to the lame, His breath flows from our praises and enlivens the dryest of things.
I pray that this permiates your soul and that your spirit prospers more today....share of yourself with others. You are His delight and I am delighted to know you,

Candace

The Darkness Ends Where There is Light

After taking a day to think through these first 4 verses of Genesis 1, I know I am loaded and ready to take on the second thought in verse 4. (using God's Word Translation)

God saw the light was good. So God separated the light from the darkness.

We discussed earlier the full meaning of God laying His eyes on what he had perceived.  We know that the light was everything He desired it to be.  So in His wisdom, love, authority (I am sure I am leaving out something here) He "separated it from the void, obscure, ominous deep or whatever else pertains to this "darkness".  If that is so, and we all believe that it is, Why?  If it is good, wouldn't that help?  Why didn't He just throw it in the muddle?  Loaded with these questions, you know me, I had to look up the Hebrew meaning for "separate"; which is badal pronounced baw- dal (kind of similar to battle isn't it - that's for another day).

Badal means to divide, separate, sever, set apart, to make a distinction, to make a difference, to divide into parts, to withdraw from or separate unto oneself, to exclude.

Knowing this answers my questions.  I simply had to know the meaning of the word. 

We discussed a while back amidst the discovery of shadows some verses on darkness and light. Reflect on those today go to the search icon on the lower left side and type in light.  You can also type in dark, chaos, vision, any topic that you feel represent light  - darkness and separation.

We will pick up here tomorrow.
With the Love of Our Christ I cover us.  Join me today.
Candace

Cowbody Take Me Away!

Cowboy Take Me Away!

"Cowboy take me away fly this girl as high as you can into the wild blue

Set me free, oh I pray, closer to heaven above and closer to you....

Closer to you...."  Dixie Chicks Lyrics

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 (God's Word Translation)

We now understand that freedom is the ability to not be bound, to have made it out of our turbulence so that we CAN help another person. I want us to be sure we understand what we are actually free “from”. What does He mean when he says “do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” ?
2 Corinthians 3:17,18 states:

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

 

To understand what the true meaning of this statement was we have to look at two Greek works that this is derived from:

Duleiua – meaning servitude, dependence, the state of Doulos (defined below), servant. To be in the position of a servant and act accordingly, to be subject and serve in subjection, bondage, used of actions which are directed by others. Reduced to bondage under someone, deprived of freedom, to be under the law. Metaphorically, to be a slave to, such as to pleasures.

Doulos – means a slave, one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will altogether comsumed in the will of the other, to bind.

When God tells us that we are His bond slave, the meaning is that of a freed slave that chooses to stay with his master because he is treated so well, yet at anytime the slave is free to go.

Is there some one or some thing in your life that you have no freedom to be who God desires you to be?

God I pray that you show us with unveiled faces where we allow ourselves to serve another master; where we have unintentionally put a God in your place. We know that the Lord is the Spirit and your spirit searches the depths of all things even you. Forgive us, restore us. We ask to see clearly and to allow all that you are to transform us, step by step into the same image; from glory to glory till we radiate as does the Lord. Let us permeate His glory into this place.

In Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Candace

We don't need a cowboy we have a Sheppard and it is done;so fly!

Song of Freedom

Yesterday we ended with the verse from Galatians 5:1

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

Today I want to be sure we understand what these words actually mean. The translator chose the word Freedom for this verse based on the Greek word Eleutherai, meaning freedom, generosity, independence. In contrast with the present subjection of the creature to the bondage of corruption, freedom represents the future state of the children of God. As in Romans 8:20-21

“ For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

The perfect law of freedom is the freedom of Generosity James 1:25

“But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does."

From my understanding, God is angry because people get lead deeper into slavery / bondage due to unintentionally walking away from Him. Christ says, Romans 8:15

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father!”

When God gets angry about us being lead away, I do not believe He is angry with us. Christ even cried out of the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Where His concern lies in with the people leading others. This is the reason we are accountable for our idle words. God places special moments across our paths with purpose. His children are seeking Him trying desperately to find someone that can show them the way all day and night long.

This is where His generosity comes in to place in the law of freedom. Because we have been given what we needed to be free, we have to share that with someone in bondage. We are not to become a forgetful hearer, but an effectual doer. God promises that we will be blessed in what we do for helping someone when they were lost. It does take a conscious effort. It does take an act of kindness from a compassionate heart. The great news is that God does not expect us to pull “ourselves” up to muster our own strength to do this. He is generous. He provides everything. He gives us His words at the appropriate moment. His spirit is willing….we just have to say “I will do it….for you, through you, to glorify you my Lord”

I pray that we see …Today. That we ask Him into each and every moment so that He can walk among His people and touch them as He desires….through us. His body.

With Love, in Christ,
Candace

These are words from an Elton John song called Healing Hands. Some times these lyrics resound in my heart as I go about among people.

“Reach out your healing hands, wade out into the waters. There is light where the darkness ends, reach out for the healing hand. Rock them, let them see again. Let them learn to love again.”

In the Clouds

There is a destiny that makes us brothers:
None goes his way alone;
All that we send into the lives of others
Comes back into our own.
—Markham

(verses from Hebrew 11, 12 and 1 Corinthians 10)

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that all our ancestors who left Egypt were under the cloud, and they all went through the sea. They were all united with Moses by baptism in the cloud and in the sea. All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them, and that rock was Christ. Yet, God was not pleased with most of them, so their dead bodies were scattered over the desert. These things have become examples for us so that we won’t desire what is evil, as they did.
These things happened to make them an example for others. These things were written down as a warning for us who are living in the closing days of history. So, people who think they are standing firmly should be careful that they don’t fall. There isn’t any temptation that you have experienced which is unusual for humans. God, who faithfully keeps his promises, will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist. But when you are tempted, he will also give you the ability to endure the temptation as your way of escape.
Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. God accepted our ancestors because of their faith .Faith convinces us that God created the world through his word. This means what can be seen was made by something that could not be seen. We don’t belong with those who turn back and are destroyed. Instead, we belong with those who have faith and are saved.
What more should I say? I don’t have enough time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Through faith they conquered kingdoms, did what God approved, and received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, and escaped death. They found strength when they were weak. They were powerful in battle and defeated other armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. Other believers were brutally tortured but refused to be released so that they might gain eternal life. Some were made fun of and whipped, and some were chained and put in prison. Some were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. Some wore the skins of sheep and goats. Some were poor, abused, and mistreated. The world didn’t deserve these good people. Some wandered around in deserts and mountains and lived in caves and holes in the ground. All these people were known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. God planned to give us something very special so that we would gain eternal life with them. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up. We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God. Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you don’t become tired and give up.
You struggle against sin, but your struggles haven’t killed you. You have forgotten the encouraging words that God speaks to you as his children:
“My child, pay attention when the Lord disciplines you.
Don’t give up when he corrects you.
The Lord disciplines everyone he loves.
He severely disciplines everyone he accepts as his child.”
Strengthen your tired arms and weak knees. Keep walking along straight paths so that your injured leg won’t get worse. Instead, let it heal. Try to live peacefully with everyone, and try to live holy lives, because if you don’t, you will not see the Lord. Make sure that everyone has kindness from God so that bitterness doesn’t take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you. Make sure that no one commits sexual sin or is as concerned about earthly things as Esau was. He sold his rights as the firstborn son for a single meal You have not come to something that you can feel, to a blazing fire, to darkness, to gloom, to a storm, to a trumpet’s blast, and to a voice. You have come to Jesus, who brings the new promise from God, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than Abel’s. Be careful that you do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Your ancestors didn’t escape when they refused to listen to God, who warned them on earth.
Continue to love each other. Don’t forget to show hospitality to believers you don’t know. By doing this some believers have shown hospitality to angels without being aware of it. Remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are mistreated as if you were being mistreated.

Just think...we are part of that cloud now, and we have an opportunity everyday to be a person lifting up another to look from our shoulders...and see higher than we did. Isn't that awesome?
Much love,
Candace

There is Liberty

Today is the first time I have been to your site. This conversation is interesting. My sister and I were speaking about this subject yesterday - which lead to an extended conversation with my husband over dinner.
There is such a disconnect within the body of Christ. There is so much self preservation, due to fear. His word tells us that there is no fear in love. His love casts out fear.
As I was thinking about all this yesterday I was very aware of how much we trust in our fear - to the point of paralyzing our selves. This is such bondage, and we are so used to it that we are unaware.
I pray for us all, that as we trust more in Christ to hold us in the palm of His hand and step out in the way He has prepare for us - that we will break free from the bondage and into His freedom. As He stated in 2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).
Thanks for the discussions - keep 'em going.