We Think, We Review, We Stress

Who of us does not think about our life an enormous amount of our moments?  I am assuming not to many of you said "Not me!".   The truth is, we think, we talk, we think, we review our thoughts, we speak without thinking, we think about what just happened, we stress, we think, we review........

In all this chaos why don't we just breathe?  It takes an orange in the apple bin to stop the madness remember? 

As we have been thinking about dark vapor, pieces of our lives, and the BIG picture I took a few moments to reflect "outside the box".  I laid all my best idea's aside, along with the little frame which fit them and sat with God and a blank page. 

These are the oranges in my apple bin.

And here is what I see.

I am going to read back through just breathe and the orange among our apples.  Let's see what is created from all that.

I pray that each of you see things unimaginable, hear the calmness of His voice, smell the sweet victory of our saviour and raise up your hearts to clutch hope....

In Love,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copy Rights Reserved
Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc®

And Yet.....I Drive

We have been discussing stories in group.  Formulating our thoughts and revisiting past realities along with the view we have up ahead.  It has brought up some very interesting topics.  Today, as we were reading Uproriaous Delirium we focused on driving ourself crazy.  It truly is a rediculous statement when you think about it.

For those of you not in a group, this is the segment from the storyline:

How can I sit in this seat, night after night, with these tired, worn-out chick flicks?  I can't help myself though.  They are like a dear old friend; I would miss them if they were to go away.  It is like a bad habit you desire to stop, but cannot seem to allow your foot to move off the gas pedal and onto the break.  So you simply sit behind the wheel, going at your own speed, almost hoping at times that you will run out of gas.  You want to stop, but yet don't at the same time. 

If I were to be honest, I would really have to quesiton my own thought, because if I were to run out of gas, I am fairly certain, I would get out of my vehicle, dash for more gasoline, sit back down, turn the key and then place my foot on the escellerator and rolled along.  You know what that means, right?  I'm actually driving "myself" crazy.  Isn't that insane? And yet......I DRIVE!

No one can drive us crazy in reality.  We have to get in our car and follow their directions.  Over time, we simply decide we are not going to turn around and go a different way. 

Think about it, don't drive anywhere you don't want to go.  You really are in control of your own automobile.
What state are driving into? If you don't want to go on that trip, turn your vehicle around!

Love,
Candace

I Wish You Didn't Exist

The verse in Genesis we have been meditating on for over a week is unfolding in magnificent ways as we continue our search for God’s story to us.  

When God began creating the heavens and the earth, the earth was a shapeless, chaotic mass, with the Spirit of God brooding over the dark vapors.  Genesis 1:1, 2 (The Book)

We all tend to get a bit broody over the way a good day can turn shapeless and chaotic in the blind of an eye.  But think about this – God’s spirit was hovering over a world of chaos; we only have our little mass to hold back.  What I find overwhelmingly inspirational is that God did not fuss about the darkness; he simply said “Let there be Light.”  Did you notice, not even an exclamation point was used.  He simply stated what “should be” to create peace, harmony and well-being and then expected it to manifest.  WOW – you could stop day one right there for me because THAT alone would make the perfect day!

When we read on we notice how God repeatedly created balance where there was imbalance – and so it was.  Then they created man………..

It only took a brief time for shalom, Eden to head south.  God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden as quickly as He had breathed life into their being.  Years later God expelled Cain from the fields which he had been given.  All this kept going until one day when God said: 

“My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years………….And the Lord was sorry that He had made man o n the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.  And the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”

And yet even in blotting them out, they are recorded; not forgotten.  God is EVER mindful of us, do not ever doubt Him. We cannot wipe out our past; although many things we wish, hope and pray that they never resurface.  The truth is we can banish things from our presence, but no matter how hard we try they will not completely vanish.  They all exist and loom about taunting us as if scary shadows outside our window or in the corners of our rooms when we were children.

We were created in His image, perfect for a relationship with Him.  But soon we were defiled, dejected and expelled.  This did not happen overnight, it was a journey and we will be on a sojourn to discover the events between.

Below is a list of words we will be using in groups, think about them:

• Expel: To push out something with force, to compel somebody to leave or give up membership in an institution, to dismiss
• Defile: To corrupt or ruin something; damage a reputation or good name; destroy the sanctity of something holy or sacred; to pollute; to deprive a woman of their virginity Deject: feeling or showing sadness, lack of hope, especially because of disappointment
• Banish: to exile or send someone away; to put someone out of your mind
• Vanish: to pass out of sight; especially quickly; disappear; to pass completely from existence  

 I pray that we think about balance, goodness, righteousness....the very BEST day and then ask God how to help Him keep the peace.

Be Well My Friends,

Kisses,

C

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copy Rights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc®

When Will I See It?

Another new group is underway for "There is a Story Being Told".  We have read "The Wind and a Stone" and are now working in the study of Peter, and several other books.  In order to keep the posts interesting for those of you in other groups and the many of you who only participate through the web site, which I am so grateful to have you (but WOULD love to meet you one day), I will continue to add new material to the segments. 

What fascinates ME is how God enlightens me in another level of His character each time I start up another group.  Sometimes I wonder if I will ever really know the fullness of our God, He is so very awesome!  Like a good movie, or book I almost hope I don't.  It makes each day so exciting to think about what new thing I am going to learn about Him :)

In addition to the materials and verses last week, read the information from What Do You See

I want each of you to think about this:

God knows our experiences.  He understands the limits of our knowledge.  He not only gave us permission to not lean on our own understanding, but He implores us to lean on His because He has literally "Seen It All".  He tells us that there is nothing new under the sun, so we might as well stop thinking we have a real stumper for Him.

He says for those of us who have ears to hear, and those of us who have eyes to see.  What do you hear?  What do you see?  Are you listening for Him?  Are you looking for Him?  Or are you maybe just a little afraid you will hear or see Him and hiding a bit?

Just think about it today.  If you feel like it send me some responses - that would be really cool ;)  I would love to get some conversation going with you guys prior to group.

My prayer for each of you is that you literally relax in the thought of Him.....and then hear Him.....

Rest well my dears,
Kisses,
Candace

Don't You Remember By Adele -

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copy Rights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc®

Segment 2: The Wind and a Stone

As we read The Wind and a Stone, we found more than a good read with fascinatingly read characters.  We found our own characters and recognized some of our very real fears.  Today we are going to read another snippet from Erwin McManus’ book Stand Against the Wind while we again merge with the Old Testament and New Testament scriptures.  When we speak of the ebb and flow of God’s word this is what we mean.  We must dive deeply into these holy waters, reaching through to the other side.  We must join our hands with the others and now merge in with our very own life.

It always amazes me when God shares something so many years prior, which we store away, nourish and wait with excitement for Him to bring to a full harvest.  Before I ever began women’s group studies, He told me we would be doing this.  I thought it was just a poem:

 

Walk across the scripture

Reach his hand on the other side

Journey with him and the others

Merge in now with your life

Repair your broken mirror

To reflect his perfect peace

Bring transparency and your color

Into the picture of eternity

 

God created a space, we’ve discussed, where He could enter with power.  He could be born as man, our Christ and suffer just one time for all suffering.  What He did was secure Zoe life for us, but we must recognize how we “Give up the Ghost” as the old saying goes.  But it is true:

When we sin we shatter our oneness with God, which is Shalom.  While we are sitting amidst our broken pieces too exhausted to move is actually the perfect time to pick up the one thing in our life that cannot be shattered… God’s word.  Don’t worry about the shattered pieces around you, just sit with Him and read. Let Him take you on a journey, His journey, Your journey, Our journey… it’s all the same.

Like I always say…..we’re nothing but a bunch of characters anyway.  So, lighten up, God’s got your storyline covered – literally! You are bound between the pages of His cover front to back your story has been entwined within His.

For the next few months we will be on a sojourn in search of our characters lines; because There IS a Story Being Told.  Won’t you join us?

Happy Trails to YOU……

Kisses,

Candace

Read Psalms 31; Luke 24; Matthew 28

We will be starting a new study of Peter in group by Stephen J Binz

 Update 2012 ©Candace Huffmaster 2006, All Copy Rights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly Inc ®

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™

What is YOUR Character Acting Out?

Today we are entering Mark 5.  Please be sure and read the full chapter for yourselves and then consider the things we have discussed thus far.  Christ had a focus and he was very passionate, determined and single minded in his efforts.  We are told, in Proverbs as well as many other scriptures, that a double minded person is unstable in all their ways.  Look at what Philippians 2 states:

So, then, as Christians, do you have any encouragement?  Do you have any comfort from love?  Do you have any spiritual relationships?  Do you have sympathy and compassion?  Then fill me with joy by having the same attitude and the same love, living in harmony, and keeping one purpose in mind.  Don't act out of selfish ambition or be conceited.  Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves.  Don't be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.  Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Acting Out: 
When  children's parents are going through touch relational times, sometimes we state that the kids are "acting out".  They become confused; their world gets turned upside down.  Generally speaking, we have more patients with them.  We have compassion and are tender hearts, extending much mercy. 

Sometimes, we state people are "acting out of character".  We usually say something like this when someone has a consistent pattern of how they act, respond etc. If  there is a point which this person's character or familiar way of acting is altered for a period of time we wonder what has gotten into this person.  We can be referring to something positive or negative.

Christ's actions, words and persona were congruent with the word of God.  He was above reproach on all levels.  He never once aligned himself with selfish ambition.  Philippians goes on to state:

Although he was in the form of God and equal with God, he did not take advantage of this equality.  Instead,  he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance.

I do not know about you, but I am a human form.  This very plainly states that I will have a human appearance and I am to empty myself of the desires which would "take advantages" in order to "give advantages" to others (and the clincher) to also have an attitude that they are better than me. 

Doesn't that incite your flesh to stand up and object?  Well....do what I did and tell it to sit itself down, be silent and listen to what Mark is illustrating in attempts to perceive the truth. (This a submissive spirit)
As Jesus stepped out of the boat in the territory of Gerasemes, just the other side of the Sea of Galilee, a man came up to meet him.  This man, Mark tells us, lived among the tombs and was controlled by evil spirits.  The following details intrigued me: 

• The man saw Jesus and ran to him, he bowed down in front of him.
• The evil spirit asked Jesus, "Why are you bothering me now?" "Jesus, Son of the Most High God"
• Jesus demanded the evil spirit come out of the man prior to asking the spirit to identify itself.
• The evil spirit avoided full disclosure by using a generic name; "Legion (six thousand) because there are many.
• Legion asked him to swear he would not torture him.
• The "demons" begged Jesus not to send them out of this territory, but instead to send them into the swine; to allow them to enter the swine.

Looking back over all the encounters thus far, I noted:

• The man ran to Jesus and bowed down
• The spirits asked Jesus "why are you bothering me, now"

The first spirit Mark talks about, earlier in his story, yelled to Jesus confirming Christs authority.The spirit asked Jesus what  he wanted with them.  But they did not bow down to him.  The people who were controlled by evil spirits would fall down and state his authority, but it doesn't state that they approached him, ran to him or bowed down. 

 I found it curious that instead of being overwhelmed with gratitude for ridding their territory of the screaming, self-mutilating , chain breaking, streaking, wild man running around their deceased loved ones, they were so frightened of Jesus that they BEGGED him to leave. Why were they so scared this man being sane or in his right mind, eating with utensils, clothed and, from this illustration it appears, in quiet an equitable mood. 

When this man heard the others carrying on so, did you notice, he requested to go away with Jesus. Do you think it was due to adoration and gratitude or perhaps these "sane towns people" were freaking him out a bit.  Maybe it was a bit of both!? None the less, Christ asked that he stay.  But don't miss the most important part:  This is the first person Mark has shared that Jesus wanted the person to "Go home,  tell EVERYONE how much the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been to you." 

Because this mind heard the Good News, allowed it to alter his way of thinking,  believed it to the point it altered his character - he was transformed.  He accepted the call of the cause presented to him and went to the neighboring 10 cities preaching the Good News........and people were AMAZED!

Now that's a great story line for one of God's characters to have the privilege of playing out.  We all have one; a part that was created with only YOU in mind.  No one else can play your character.  I look forward to seeing you at the "After Party"!  Till then break-a-leg or 'hatzlakha u-brakha' (blessing and success).

With Love,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

Something Old, Nothing New

Jesus went on to say, pay attention to what you are listening to .  Knowledge will be measured out to you by the measure of attention you give.  This is the way knowledge increases.  Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge.  However, some people don't understand these mysteries and even what they understand will be taken from them. Mark 4: 24, 25

Don’t give the devil any opportunity to work – Thieves must stop stealing and instead work hard with their hands so that they’ll have something to share with those in need. Ephesians 4:28

As is usually the case, connectivity while away proved once again to be problematic.  I hope that you were able to use the down time for digging deeper into the book of Mark or even Ecclesiastes.  As promised, we are rolling in the wisdom gleaned from the old testament writing and mixing it  into the story line Mark has prepared for us.

It fascinates me as I think about the vast time lines of these writings.  Ecclesiastes was written, most believe, around 945 B.C. and Mark was recanting Jesus' journey around 30 A.D.  Yet thousands of years later there can be no argument that wisdom is unwavering AND applicable no matter how "people" alter things or thoughts.

We are not going to get hung up on who the author is. What is important is the experience and focus on unchanging truths.  Whether it was Solomon or another King, we are blessed by his documentation.  This mere mortal unfolded the complexity of his thoughts, emotions and experiences as he interacted with the world, self and God in attempts to discern the knowledge of good and evil verses Zoe life.

The writer, at times, seems to be on the verge of spiraling beyond his ability to return to God.  Most of us can wrap our minds around a scene like this.  His opening quotes are very believable:

"Absolutely pointless!"  "Absolutely pointless!" "Everything is pointless."

Not much room for questioning his frame of mind, is there?  This teacher of wisdom then states a rhetorical question and follows it up with a few fun facts which I have paraphrased:

What do people gain from all their hard work under the sun?
The earth is the only thing which stands constant.  All other things revolve around it, pass through it, are born to die upon it, over and over and over again.

He went on to say our thinking and sayings are overused and unwise; it is all the same old thing.  What ever has been done will only be done again,  because we cannot comprehend or retain the knowledge of others from the beginning.  Also, we do not record it well for those who come after us.

This king, in a very dogmatic tone, states his opinion that God has burdened mere mortals by limiting their knowledge.  He makes it his lofty goal to use wisdom to study and glean experiential knowledge to prove his accuracy of mankind's futile state.  It is his view that all our striving is like trying to catch the wind.  Since we cannot straighten what's bent or count what is not there he perceives our existence as pointless.

With confidence he claims his position as 'wiser than anyone who has ruled Jerusalem before him'.  He has used his mind to understand wisdom and knowledge; even taken it to extremes in order to experience madness and stupidity.  In his opinion, based on all these factors he stands firm that it IS like trying to catch the wind.  He learned that with a lot of wisdom, comes a lot of headaches and the greater your knowledge is the greater your pain is. 

If this is Solomon, we know he was told not to lean on his own understanding.  This lofty goal he set for himself led him into desiring creature comforts for the pain his head and emotions were encountering.  He turned to what many mortals do: pleasuring his flesh by pursuing and feed it each and every lusty desire it dared to imagine.  But in this he states he found no lasting relief, it too was pointless.  Even laughter he felt accomplished nothing!

Sounds as if his bitterness and rage were pulling him into a downward, dark hole, don't you think?  Guess what this teacher did in attempt to make his dis - ease go away?  He drank wine and explored ways to do foolish things.  After all in this hopeless state what did he have to loose, right?  Can you imagine if you had of been in his presence and heard him make this next statement?  "Even through all this my wisdom has continued to control my mind, therefore I have been able to determine whether all this was good for mortals to do during their brief circle around the earth under the heavens."  We do not need to experience this to determine if it is good for man to experience these things, God has already TOLD us - there is a way that seems right to man, but leads to destruction.

The writer turns it up a notch now.  He writes his great list of accomplishments for all to view and recording it for those who will come after him:

• He built a house for himself
• He planted vineyards for himself
• He made parks and gardens for himself with every type of fruit tree within them
• He made pools to water the forest of growing trees
• He purchased male and female slaves
• in addition slaves were born in his household
• He owned more herds and flocks than anyone before him
• He gathered silver and gold for himself
• He gathered treasures of kings and provinces
• He provided himself with male and female singers and the pleasures men have with one concubine after another
• He grew richer than anyone had ever been in Jerusalem
• And he NEVER lost his wisdom!

If something appealed to this man he did it.  He did not restrain any desire conceivable; stating he was  justified because he worked hard and loved his work; it was part of his payment. 

Do you notice how all of his thoughts, even though he was providing nicely for others, started and ended with himself and for his pleasure? No matter how much he was giving, the heart of the matter was that he was consuming everything like the thief.  While he might have been knowledgeable, he was not exemplifying wisdom and while he was able to write out a great list of mighty powerful things, those things were doing more destruction than they were good for himself as well as those around him.

If we read on in Ecclesiastes, however, we see there came a point when he realized how deep and unquenchable this vortex was and his limitation in ever satisfying it's appetite.  He writes that from all this he had gained nothing under the sun.  So what did he do now?  It states, "He Turned", "He paid attention to experience" wisdom, madness and foolishness.  Do you remember Mark telling us the purpose of the Gospel?

The time has come, the kingdom is near: Change the way you think and act and believe the Good News!

This man was at least attempting to gather the information to surmise his thoughts. 
He asks:  What can the man who replaces the king do? 
He answers:  Only what has already been done. 
His conclusion:  Wisdom has an advantage over foolishness as light has an advantage over darkness.  A wise person uses the eyes in his head, but a fool walks in the dark.

He also came to realize that the same destiny awaits all creatures upon the earth; deciding that wisdom also was pointless then.  Remember when he stated: with a lot of wisdom came a lot of headaches and the greater your knowledge is the greater your pain?  He knew that when his last breath was drawn some fool or wise person would walk in to own all that he had accomplished.  He also realized that in time it would be as though he had never existed so his bitterness and anger turned to hate.  It was then that he lost his hope and walked straight through the doorway of despair.

Work once loved, he now claims is unbearable.  He speaks of struggling and life being consumed with pain.  He says at night there is no rest for the mind.  I believe we have a great picture of the vortex calling out to him amidst this chaos and at first it appears as if he might just enter in.  The king says so then there is nothing better to do than to eat drink and find satisfaction in work......

I know this is getting longer than usual, but let's not stop there.  He is about to have an encounter with a radical new thought which would overtake the voice of chaos and shut bind up the way into the consuming vortex.  Wisdom finally spoke out of him saying, if God isn't the center of all you are doing there will never be any enjoyment - for all this comes from the hand of God.  He realized that God alone gives wisdom, knowledge and joy to all who pleases Him. 

The true revelation in my opinion, however, was his acknowledging that the person who continues to sin would be given a job by God as well.  Their work would comprise gathering and collecting wealth for God to turn over to those pleasing or aligning themselves with God.  I assume the writer was still wrestling with his emotions, ambitions and pride because he stated, even this is pointless and like trying to catch the wind. 

He did not turn back thought, instead he casts those thoughts aside and writes a list of all the times under the heavens.  Now his wisdom is attempting to peak out from his shroud.  Once again, he broaches the topic of gain from hard labor, but this time he has a changed mind.  His view of the burden weighing down on mortals is not overbearing, he claims it is beautiful how God has done everything at the right time.  He now touts that God has put a sense of eternity in peoples minds.  Yet mortals still can't grasp what God is doing from the beginning to the end of time, and he seems to be just fine with that.

What really excites me is his new view point and perspective based on this revelation, as he states:

I realize that there is nothing better for them to do than to be cheerful and enjoy what is good in their lives and experience the good that comes from every kind of hard work.  I also realize that whatever God does will last forever.  Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken away from it.  God does this so that people will revere Him.  Whatever has happened in the past, is present now.  Whatever is going to happen in the future has already happened in the past.

God will call the past to account!

Today, whether you feel like you are chasing after the wind or the wind is chasing after you and it is all pointless; think about Mark telling us the story of how the disciples panicked on the boat.  They asked Christ if he did not care that they were going to die.  And they were simply crossing to the other side of the shore.  Christ got up, ordered the wind to stop and said to the sea, " Be still, absolutely still!" 

I pray that your faith in God's love and Christ's victory will be empowered by the Holy Spirit and bring you out of fear and into His love so that any mighty wind opposing or eluding your confidence will be subdued by His righteousness.

In Christ, with love,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

What's Your Story?

If you have been involved in our conversations for any time at all, you know we lean on the story lines to learn.  Not too long ago we discussed that each of us are telling a story constantly.  This is what conversation and relationship is....storytelling.  We tell the moments of our days over and over and over again.  What tales are you spinning for the world to glean from?  Whether you expect it or not, someone IS leaning on your storyline.  Will it hold them up, or drop them flat on their face?  We know that only when our words align with God's will they truly be" an ever ready help in someones time of need". Let's not be telling an erroneous story line.  Know the story being told - we are accountable for each and every word which comes from our mouth, the thoughts of our mind and the intent of our heart.  That is the truth no matter what we tell ourselves or others.   It is so.....and so it is!

In Chapter 4 of Mark we see that Jesus is again teaching by the Sea of Galilee:

A very large crow gathered around him, so he got into a boat and sat in it.  The boat was in the water while the entire crowd lined the shore.  He used stories as illustrations to teach them many things.

While he was teaching them, he said, "LISTEN!" 

He added, "Let the person who has ears listen!"

When he was alone with his followers and the twelve apostles they asked him about the stories.  Jesus replied to them.  " The mystery about the kingdom of God has been given directly to you. To those on the outside, it is given in stories:

They see clearly but don't perceive.

They hear clearly but don't understand. 

They never return to me and are never forgiven."

Jesus asked them, "Don't you understand this story?"  How, then, will you understand ANY of the stories I use as illustrations?

Can you imagine His concern?  There is a difference between seeing clearly but not perceiving and not seeing clearly therefore you cannot perceive.

There is a difference between hearing clearly but not caring enough to think on the complexity beyond the obvious and listening with intent to wait until you understand the fullness of the one speaking to you.

There is a difference between never returning to God so that you are forgiven and not knowing God of that you need His forgiveness.

Do you understand?

God is the creator of ALL things, and He has planted His truth within all creation.  Some people who hear the word do not hear it clearly and Satan comes to be sure there is distortion.  The person does not understand the truth and therefore plants the distortion which leads them astray....

There is another person who received the truth but they do not understand.  Their heart is hardened.  They apply the word based on their understanding not on God's truth.  Then what they believe in, when put to the test fails them and they blame God.

Then another person hears the word, but there is static.  They believe they hear correctly, but when they have such success in the world and they listen tuned in to the channel of static and annoyance, they hear something contrary to their own mind set.  They decide that they didn't hear correctly because what they are doing is working, so they force the truth down. 

The last person hears clearly, understand what they hear because they patiently tune to the correct station.  They have no preconceived storyline, they are tuning their ears to every clear word spoken before surmising one detail.  They freely give into Gods will and the truth of God prospers at HIS will!

Why would we think that God would put truth in His creation and not raise it up to BE light?  He must have pure, incorruptible, iridescence though.  Otherwise it will not lead them or others the "correct way".  But, at the right time, which is when each person returns to Him and is forgiven, they will begin to grow: 30, 60 and then 100 fold as HE prospers them.  He grows them from glory to glory to glory because knowing and forgiveness increases understanding of His mysteries.

When you understand He will give you more.  But for those who don't return to Him after they know, He takes all that He gave away from them.  He transfers what is produced into the ground of His faithful fields. The glorious thing is that the person who was faithful with the 30, working Gods way, gleans understanding which prospers another 60 percent.  And when continuing to be faithful with this 60 percent, they rest in peace and awaken to see God's display of the 100 fold; which is a combination of their efforts plus the abundance of all else that God desires to grace them with for His good works. 

There are several key scriptures commonly employed on the subject of planting, harvest, faithfulness and stewardship to God.  In Malachi, He asks a nation to test Him on giving away their material gain.  The catch was it had to be giving a gift to God, not purchasing a gift FROM God.  He desired them to see that there was "in deed" a difference.  Matthew 19:29 states:

And everyone who gave up homes, brothers or sister, father or mother, children or fields because of My name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. 

Matthew 6:33 states:

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be given to you as well.

We are not going to get into the scriptures on the faithless today, that is for later in Mark.

This is a great day for the Kingdom of God because the faithful insignificant servant (in the worlds eyes), the least of  the blessed (in their opinion), will grow up taller than all the rest.  They will provide shelter and shade which reaches a great span, height providing for others in a mighty way.  All because of God's love, purpose, provision, goodness, faithfulness, power and sovereignty.  Remember that this Good Friday and crawl up under His blanket of love.

Christ has covered a multitude of sins, once and for all - Let's give Him praise and were His glory with pride!

With Love, know He calls you His delight and believe!

Kisses,

Candace



©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

Provoked to Anger

Yesterday we were reflecting on Mark Chapter 3.  Today I want to pause and do a bit deeper so that we truly understand there is a difference between being provoked to anger and giving into to the lust of getting angry.  Remember, these people were attempting to trap Jesus.  They were scheming, crouching and waiting for an opportunity to pounce.  We have all been in that position, but none of us have been in Christ's blameless position.  (We need to remember that and extend mercy more often.)

As I have studies, and prayerfully considered Marks storyline the intent of individuals has been raising red flags all over the place for me.  Which lead me to go back into proverbs as well as Ephesians to reconsider my knowledge of getting angry yet not sinning.  Let's look at these verses:

Proverbs 14: 29-30 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.  A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones.

Proverbs 22:24,25 Do not associate with a man given to anger, or go with a hot-tempered man, lest you learn his ways and find a snare for yourself.

Ephesians 4:22-26 You were taught to change the way you were living.  The person you used to be will ruin you through desires that deceive you.  However, you were taught to have a new attitude.  You were also taught to become a new person created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.  So then, get rid of lies.  Speak the truth to each other, because we are all member of the same body.  Be angry without sinning. Don't go to be angry.  Don't give the devil any opportunity to work, 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.  Don't say anything that would hurt another person.  Instead speak only what is good so that you can give help whenever it is needed.  That way, what you say will help those who hear you.  Don't give God's Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you.  He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free from the world of sin.  Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing and hatred.  Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ.

After looking up the definitions of the Hebrew and Greek words dealing with anger / angry in these passages I really got it this time:

When we are not walking in total submission to the Holy Spirit we undoubtedly will fall prey to the snares of our unrighteous emotions.  This does grieve the Holy Spirit, but the main reason is due to how our angry display is going to misguide the lost who is in desperate need of what we are supposed to be leading them into.  How can we lead them away from danger when we ourselves cannot align ourselves under pressure. 

If we are associating with people who habitually are uncooperative and unforgiving we will have no peace due to the stress they are continually placing on us.  We were not put in place to save people, we must lead them.  It is up to them to follow.  We have other business which we must not tarry with.  God will bring others across their path; continually.  He cares about them more than is "humanly" possible - so move along child =D

As Mark closes chapter 3 for us we see that the news was exploding, people from everywhere were clamoring to touch Jesus and be healed.  The masses were crushing in on Jesus.  When ever people with evil spirits saw Him, they would fall down in front of Him and shout, "You are the Son of God."  Yet Jesus still was giving them orders to tell no one who He was.  Again, could the masses hear them? 

We see Jesus finally getting away from everyone somehow.  But He did call those He wanted with Him to come along up the mountain.  There He appointed the 12 calling them apostles.  These were the ones who were to accompany Him and be sent out to spread the Good News and were given authority to force demons out of people.

THEN Jesus went home Mark says.  I bet Jesus was utterly exhausted and anticipating the comforts of home. But guess what, that didn't happen.  What did happen was the crowds were bad that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat.  If I had of made it this far, there is not much doubt that with my blood sugar crashing and all things pressing down on me I would have given in to my anger in the midst of that awful crowd and rightfully angered the Holy Spirit.  But wait there's more......

Christ's own family, started saying "He's out of his mind!" Then the scribes launch their torpedo "Beezlzebul is in him".....and And AND "He forces demons out of people with the help of the ruler of demons!"  CLANK! CRASH! OUCH! OOOF! SPLAT! (translated, that would have been it for me; I would be defeated).  But not our Christ........He called the people together and told them a story. 

WOW; how mighty is the power of our God.  He is so compassionate, patient, loving, merciful, gentle, graceful.  Tomorrow we will discuss Jesus' story within Marks story being told.

I'm excited, what about you?  So cling to this storyline when there are provokers, mocker, naysayers all about you.  And though they stir up your anger, remember to love them - we must love our enemies not hate them.  Have compassion on them, attempt to tell them the truth.  You don't have to save them, even stick around them afterward; that is the Holy Spirits job.  Have pity on them, after all they DO have to stick around themselves after-the-fact.

With a heart full of love for you,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

Is Your Mouth a People Trap?

We have been following Mark as he tells us the storyline of Christ, to the best of his recollection.  Last, we were watching as the highly esteemed leaders of the religious community were working themselves into a bit of a tizzy.  It does not make much sense to me, Jesus was only helping people be released from the bondage's of life.  What could possibly be seen as offensive in that?

We know that God's ways are foolishness to the foolish.  God's ways cannot be understood without the clarity given to us by the Holy Spirit.  So IF you or I understand even one thing, we cannot hold it up and tout "look how smart, wise, clever I am!"  The truth is, if we were to give in to His Spirit instead of the spirit of this world we would know all the things of God.  But we won't, we don't and we do not even see that we aren't.  Crazy, isn't it?

Let's hold up a couple of proverbs to compare what we are studying against:

9:7,8 Whoever corrects a mocker receives abuse. Whoever warns a wicked person gets hurt.  Do not warn a mocker, or he will hate you.  Warn a wise person and he will love you.

10:9,12 Whoever lives honestly will live securely, but whoever lives dishonestly will be found out.  Hate starts quarrels, but love covers every wrong.

In Chapter 3 of Mark people were accusing Christ in order to trap Him.  They were attempting to do this by presenting people who needed care.  Christ asked the man to stand in the middle of everyone asking the people to choose the right thing to do.  Knowing their intent, they had to choose to either let a person hurt just to prove Jesus wrong (in their eyes) or help the person because it was the righteous thing to do. 

It states that Jesus looked around but everyone was silent.  He (Jesus) was hurting deeply by their silence because this meant their minds were closed.  Can you imagine his dilemma at this point?  Who do you think was the most in need of a miraculous healing from Christ's view point.  The outwardly in need man who trusted Him enough to believe and come forward or those with a hard heart unteachable, unreachable?

How often do we use our words to snare others?  How often to we set them up to do the right, or even wrong thing in hope of slamming the cell door shut, licking our greedy lips as we say - See, I told you so.
Let's be people who encourage, love, lift, shed light and give them some flavor when life become tasteless.

At least that is my prayer for us all - if it's yours as well, please join me and trust God.  He's amazing you know =D

With Love to each and every one of you - and even those of you I don't know.
Kisses,
Candace

A Malice Filled Mouth

As always when I study for writing I find out so much about myself.  Need I say that these nuggets of discovery are not flattering in the least.  The wonderful thing is "there is no condemnation in Christ - where He is, there is liberty.  THANK GOD!

Most days I go along pretty well as long as I am around the people who like me and think I am pleasant, kind...you know, the fruits of the spirit.  They are EASY to walk in the spirit around.  However, when I am around others who do not particularly care for me (I know, your shocked right?  but there are more than a few) is when I find out if I AM walking in the spirit or in my own selfish flesh.  I took some continuing education this week and one sentence hit me like a bulls eye between the eyes: 

People do not CAUSE your problem, they REVEAL it.  When you get offended or angry the problem isn't them, the problem is something inside of your heart.  Do not think that I mean what they did was okay if it goes against God's word.  What I am saying is we are to be at peace with people as far as it depends on us.  We are not responsible for their actions, only our own. 

Keep this in mind, as we proceed a bit farther into Marks storyline today:

Several days later from where we stopped off last, Jesus was back in Capernaum.  The news was out and people were coming from all over for Him to heal and teach them.  He was sharing the gospel and their faith was allowing them to receive miracles in a mighty way.

The religious leaders were starting to get a bit hot under the collar I believe.  I perceive their intent toward Jesus as malicious.  They were talking about Jesus, not too Him.   Jesus over heard / perceived in His heart their slanderous remarks .  It is always amazing to me, how Jesus does not out right tell people what the problem is.  He asks questions to reveal what the problem is.  Note: They perceived that Jesus was causing their problem; reality - Jesus was revealing the condition of their heart.  Let's look and learn from His dialogue with them:

• Why do you have these thoughts? Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, "Your sins are forgiven, or to say,  "Get up, pick up your cot, and go home?"
• "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do.  I've come to call sinners, not people who think they don't have any flaws."

So I ask you, what happens when an unrepentant spirit is confronted with truth?  Do they say thank you and embrace the person who was selfless enough to "in humility" give them the mind changing, action altering truth of God; or do they get angry, bitter and hate them secretly?

When people asked why John's disciples and the Pharisees disciples fast but not Jesus', He replied: Can wedding quests fast when the groom is still with them?  As long as He is there, they cannot fast; but the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them and then they will fast. 

Christ continue on stating; No one patches an old coat with new cloth that will shrink.  Several things came to my mind as I read this.  One is the obvious, how material shrinks when you wash it.  The second was a question, how does this relate to fasting?  My third thought was the correlations between the old  / new wine skin being a metaphor to our flesh and how our flesh gets baptized.  I started picturing how our flesh would tear if we had His spirit enter into us with out His power to keep our flesh from riping and tearing apart.  Lastly, I remembered the instance when people tried to force evil spirits out of people and the bible tells us that all their closes where shredded etc. 

All that leads me to understand a bit more clearly just how much loving care God is displaying; how LONG suffering He is with each of us.  Thank God for His mercy, grace, patience, faithfulness, deliverance and mighty, all transforming, Holy Spirit.

With the love of our Christ, sweet dreams tonight.
Kisses,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

Making Our MARK

Jesus said, "The time has come, and the kingdom of God is  near.  Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News." Mark 1:15

We have spoken about how we are defined or framed by the words which proceed from our mouth, the actions we take, and the plan which we make.  We discussed that in order to best describe or define God we must focus on what HE tells us about Himself.  God doesn't change His definition, we discover it step by step.  He is not going to become what we define Him as.  This is idolatry; forming God into our image.  We know that we are in the process of being transformed into His image as we were created to begin with. 

Most of us spend the majority of our life creating ourselves into the image we perceive is best.  Yet we did not start our process, God did.  Once we believe this to be true we are on a sojourn back to where we started from in order to pick up where WE left Him off.  At least I pray we all figure that much out because that is where salvation begins.  And it IS only the beginning! 

All this to say, we are listening to Mark speak what he believes to be the truth.  These are the defining statements of who our brother Mark is becoming within our one and only true eternal family.  While we are born within earth bound families these unless all come to the saving knowledge of Christ and believe; they will not be our family beyond this temporary life.  So let's continue listening and observing what Mark has to tell us.  I pray your faith be expanded, wisdom increased and God glorified through your existence unto Him.

Jesus purpose was to preach the word of God and force demons out of people.  Notice, Christ had to believe, speak and if invited participate in being a catalyst for change.  But people first had to believe, speak and receive or it would have been useless. 

He told Simon Peter and Andrew that they would catch men.  Think about how Christ catches us when we fall.  Think about how lifeless a person is when the force that is upholding them is no longer there.  As I was reading along with Marks story I noticed how Christ handled people with care, but His presence was mayhem to the evil spirits. 

We first see Jesus  being called the Son of God, not by Peter, by evil spirits as Jesus came into their presence.  Jesus ordered the spirits to keep quiet about His identity.  Question: "Could the people not hear this conversation between the evil spirits and Jesus?" Then it was like an epiphany to me: of course they knew who He was; they were in heaven with Him before their great fall from heaven. 

A bit later along their way, Christ went off by Himself to pray and the disciples came looking for Him saying: "Everyone is looking for you."  I had to giggle a bit when I read His reply.  Christ did not say: "Well for goodness sake, then let me get up and go to them. We can't keep them waiting; they're in need!"  He said: " Well let's go somewhere else, I have to spread the Good News in all the nearby and small places too." 

Look at the radical difference between God and man.  Man usually thinks we need to get up and run to the aid of people.  When in actuality we are only to give wise counsel which leads them to God.  They must believe and allow Him to "fix them" if they have faith to follow His instructions.  We, as well, must be willing to help or not help dependent on His will for our participation.  When we get this out of order, WE are out of order.  Remember that! (note to self)

The evil spirits were not the only ones asked not to speak about what Christ had done for them.  The man He healed with a serious skin disease was requested not to tell anyone either.  This leads me to wonder if he was possessed by an evil spirit because Christ was still forcing demons out.  My assumption is that Jesus would have done this for him as well.  Maybe Christ knew that his state would be worse than it's current state if He did this.  I don't know, guess that is one for the banquet table ;)   Once healed this person did NOT keep it to himself as Jesus requested.  In reference to my earlier comment, Jesus displayed gentleness unlike His "not allowing" the demons to speak.  There might not have been any obvious consequences for this man, but his words directly affected Jesus.  Just by him running his mouth he made it impossible for Jesus to get any time away for Himself.  Which was all Christ wanted; time alone with God.

As yesterday, I pray that you be mindful of which spirit is leading you as you think, speak and act.  It is very important.  It has a cosmic effect on the peace in this place.  Extend your peace, keep your peace and as far as it depends on you BE at peace with everyone.  That alone should keep us all pretty darn busy; don't you think?

My love to each of you, in Christ.
Kisses,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

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™

An Image, An Idol Which One is Real?

We must "Honestly" look at images.  We must find all the pieces which distort our reality.  Alone we will never be able to do this.  If we close our eye and walk up to something, so that the distortion of preconceived images will not alter our view then we might have a better chance of doing something alone.  But that would be a LONG process.  But that is metaphorically what we must do while traveling through the fragments of our lives Honestly. 

From here on out in the Honestly Series, we will be comparing our apples to the oranges.  Meaning, we will be collectively going through the pieces of our Honestly thoughts and making a new recipe to try ingredient by ingredient.  Please share your own recipes so we can come up with the best fruit juice EVER!

Today, think about what is written below.  It merges several topics in one place.  Below this I have listed  references from previous material.  I pray that each of you enjoy this day, piece by precious piece; that you drink it in deep and say Ahhhh that was delicious =D.

In Christ - with Love for you all,
Kisses,
Candace

___________________________________________________________________________________

An Image, An Idol Which One is Real?

We build an image piece by piece till we hold the creation of our own desire.  The form we clutch, comes from the forms of our mind.  God asks us to listen, to see piece by piece, what His form, His image looks like.

This is from my conversation with God journal this morning:

You ask us to listen - to see piece by piece
What your form, your image looks like.

Until, that we do, with you we can't relate
For the idol will always block our view.

The idol, we cannot please
For it has no own thought
Only those we attach and believe
If we call it good.....
If we call it strong.....
If we claim it hurtful and unjust.
So it will be, formed by our hands
Our labor for a love to be shared.

If we break it down, the dust will kick up
Making room and a space for new thoughts
What we set in stone, build up in design...
Builds a wall which our hands must tear down.

Tear down the walls........
Empty your hands..........
Receive piece by piece those He gives.

Watch Him and learn.....
Follow and See.......
The image of the One, the Only King.

~Candace Huffmaster

• How Far is Far?
• The Real You

©2007, Candace Huffmaster, All Rights Reserved

©2011 Candace Huffmaster, All Rights Reserved

™ Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc

Call For The Wailing Women

Forgive Us Father

Medium:  Oil on Canvas

Artist: Candace Huffmaster

 

 

Jeremiah 9:17, 20

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Consider now! Call for the wailing women to come; send for the most skillful of them.

Now, O women, hear the word of Lord; open your ears to the words of his mouth.  Teach your daughters how to wail; teach one another a lament.

In these passages I could see these women passionately pleading to and for the dead in spirit.  They knew the heartbreak of our father and were using their weeping and wailing as both a siren of warning and an outcry for mercy. 

There are periods in my life when I treat my relationship with the Lord so casually, not to mention my responsibilities as a follower of Christ.  There is a lost, weak world he is trying desperately to awaken and bring home.  Can you imagine if he decided not to be merciful and patient?  Until that final day comes, my prayer is that he will continue to strengthen his spirit in us all so that we will have the heart to hear his words, to cry out for the lost and his guidance in leading us all home.

©2005, Candace Huffmaster, All Rights Reserved

 

 

Conversation With My Dad

Journal Entry: Monday October 10, 2011

Good Morning Daddy,

I Love you so very much and I praise your holy, lovely and pure nature ~ You ARE my Dad, I have your DNA now, all of me!  I ask to be renewed into the exact representation of your image.

Because of Christ your son, who asked to marry me so that we could be united – I ask for you to Father me as your daughter.  I ask that the Spirit teach me, mold me, make me into the perfectly submissive wife that would bring Him honor and glory as well as bring you pleasure.

I know I am not a widow or an orphan – I am a bride and a daughter and your holy presence will never leave me nor forsake me.

It seems very hard to do this without you here in the flesh, yet a blessing that you are here within flesh.  I hear others speak of the ease of navigating through this life and I wonder… about many things.  You never said it would be easy, you did say we would have sweat less victory and that I know and obtain in abundance – but ease, without tribulation, without grieving for what others do not have – there is nothing of lightness in my midst where that is concerned.  I know your spirit is grieving and I care, I pray, I go, I speak all for the sake of your spirit to be allowed easement.

I had someone tell me they heard lamenting in my voice while we were conversing.  We were speaking because I was seeking clarity and discernment before entering into conversation in regard to a grievous situation in which there is wisdom and discernment that needs to be given a voice.  My perception of her tone and timing was as though she did not understand that we are to be warning, giving wisdom and indeed lamenting when the spirit is being  held out of its place of counsel.

You request for us to call for the wailing women – to teach our daughters to cry out, to knock on their doors in warning, to extend the gift of wisdom then to woe or lament over the dust that will cover them when we must walk away announcing your Kingdom is at hand.

God I pray for those you Love and the ones that Christ came to save not losing one of them.   I request that as I read this aloud, the angels take charge to fight the spirits headed in to sabotage all the good you have in store for them. And I request that the winds of your truth rip the veils so that they may see a glimpse of you this day, to hear you and not harden their hearts as they did in the past, to turn from the path that they are on – to have restoration with you and finally…This Day have rest for their souls.

These are the thoughts of my mind, the outpour of my heart and the desire of your heart.  In a mighty visible miraculous display Come Lord Jesus Come -

And your bride says Amen,

Kisses ~C

Today, write to them my story; it’s the story of a king

He Loved the people of His nation; those He held under wing

They grew from their experience, they wandered from His care

They followed those who would hurt them

Then they hid from the love the love that I share

They sit behind walls of anger boasting to drown out my call

I send many to find them, but the advocate of evil tells them lies

Too afraid to walk into vision, too weak to take the first step

They sit and take what is offered, they lye down never having sweet rest

They see the search light continue, day after hopeless day

After the darkness a new one rises, by mid morning their will to leave flails

Tell them to stop all the anger

Tell them to drop to their knees

Tell them to remember their father

Tell them to BELIEVE in their King

Tell them I’m forever faithful, whether their attempt succeeds or daily fails

Tell them I desire each of them, to be broken from the chains of defeat

Tell them I will never stop coming, no matter how many messengers they ignore

Tell them I will never have them save them, Christ alone bore their burden and shame

They are not going to harm them, but I will also not allow others to be destroyed

They must sit long enough to be humbled;they must feel helpless and need to receive love

Not the feelings that build ego, but the truth which will force the lie out

Then they will never return there, because that peace will be bound out of love

Tell them to rise up and call me

Tell them to stand till I come

Tell them to set their eyes on THIS vision

Tell them to not replace this view:

If they fill their minds with other pictures – the ones they have already seen

They will not recognize my presence; like an abstract which must come into view

I have already painted the picture; their mind simply is yet to perceive

All things have been place on the canvas

All the chapters have been written word for word

Their story already has an ending

The illustrations of their days alongside

My Spirit narrates to the listeners

The binding and the spine is Jesus Christ

I am the author and the owner

The deceiver has no copy right

Do not add to the image….

Do not withhold any word…

I reserve the Rights to My Story

As you know the whole story will be told!

 

I know this is my part and my portion; I will be faithful to your hearts desire

I am the bride of my master; a bond servant desiring to stay

Because of my true love toward Him, forever in Him and He in me

There is no where for me to now travel, I am Home where I will eternally BE!

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