Count The Cost; Pay For Time

 Starting with the auto accident last July until right now, time has been comparable to another Lemony Snickets Series of Unfortunate Events.  As my digital clock on the computer turns to 12:01my thoughts started rolling the moments back and over.

 Even as I am typing the ebb and flow is reaching even further back through the past 6 years .I am seeing the faces, places, occassions, seasons almost as if chronicled in an album.  Individuals I thought would be with me in ventures for years to come, people I loved dearly pass or move on.  Some relationships healed and restored, others are muted as if they never really were. This time span has been an interuption of the ordinary. It has defied sequence, structure and whatI personally desire most for my scheduling pleasure - predictability.

Have you ever thought about it? Time is real and yet intagible. We ask ourselves and others "What do you do with your time?". What we do within it is tangible and it impacts the intangible depths of our lives. 

A curious, curious thing is this time.  What one does with it is of his own design.  But here in lies the ambiguous thought - if I own my time then what attention must I pay - The cost involved would be my own gain.

What have we gained from the moments we've paid? 
Who asked the price what was the exchange? 

Being an educator, trainer, manager and consultant I delve out much information free of charge.  None of which came with out a cost to me and at times even my family.  When I see others utilizing this to improve their lives and better yet see then freely handing it over to another for the same, I can't help but reflect on God's will.  I can hear Christ saying "look Dad, they do get it!"  Freely you received, freely give. 

While I do not necessarily "like" not being in control or accomplishing all the "to do" item on my list, I do like the feeling of allowing Him to move in and through each moment to accomplish what He deems momumental for Gods grand scheme of things.  And that alone is the only thing "worth" the price paid.

From the richness that He gave us, we too can extend unto them.

I pray that today and all the days forward we seek His wisdom, counsel and provision before we head out.  I thank God for his perfect will, His mercy and grace and unending love for us all.

In Christ,
Candace

The Reality Of Our Path

"The Lamp of the Body"

oil painting by Candace Huffmaster © 2007 all rights reserved

Luke 11:34"Your eye is the lamp of your body. when your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness."

When I read this verse, a pair of eyes burned vividly into my imagination. The eyes were filled with sadness. I pictured Jesus interceding for us, the Holy Spirit grieving, asking our Father to forgive us ...yet again. I think about the eyes of the people I pass daily, or individuals I know well, sometimes the pain in their eyes is as intense as the ones I imagined. Other times I can see in their eyes they are far away, excited, or disappointed.

My favorite eyes are those of my children who love me dearly. When I look into their eyes I feel joy, pride and compassion. I know there is a day, not too far from now when I will be looking into the loving eyes of my Father. I pray for the strength, courage, wisdom, and humility to be all he needs me to be; so that I might be able to see the same emotions in His eyes as He says to me,"Well done my child, you have served me well."

Connective Cog

We are but a part, a connective cog,
Positive energy or broken and exposed.
Our eyes connect, though infused by our hearts,
With goodness to help or darkness shall fall.
To look in the face of those who we meet,
The circular pathways stare back in our face.
Each person, a universe…we all exist in our own,
Created no different than the world that we know.
Who rules the planet? Your pathways meet…
The rotation and pull…does it collide or make way?
Is there lift off or desolation? Could anything exist?
One God and one vision, there’s no room for more,
Our Creator, divine, who cannot be improved.
We take our blessings then think we know more
Move out of His energy, our natural pull
Negative energy, like opposite poles,
Has to connect with the positive to realign,
Ending the force which repels, and throws down,
The universe you travel, but do you realize your path?
Is it synergy in motion or out of control?
God in His provision, made perfect your path.
Study and ask Him, He will positively pull
Your desire to travel in His universe alone

By Candace Huffmaster © 2007 all rights reserved

Before You......

There is a difference between having a conversation with God and debating with God...
Let's use an example of a parent and child to stress where we are going with this:
  Child, "Dad I need to talk with you.  I am thinking of moving to where the economy is a bit better and there are more jobs in my area of expertise."  "I know you have done this many times so I would like to know what you think; you know my skill set as well as this industry."
  Dad, "I thought you might be thinking of this so I looked around and a company told me they will be opening up a new location right here.  The merger should be finalized in a couple of weeks.  I planted the idea of you coming on board with the men I was speaking with. They are going to talk with the branch manager."  
 Child," Well I appreciate that Dad, however, I really think I just want a change of scenery." "I just want to move and think the closing of our location is the perfect opportunity." 
 Dad, "I know it seems like that son, however, I have been looking all around the US for other businesses that are stable enough for you to consider moving; as well as all the expenses that go in to that move."  "It just is not good timing, you will face undue hardship if you go now."  "Before you set your mind, please take the time to consider these things."

In our passages we have been looking at how the spirit of God goes before us.  We know that His word tells us to consult with Him in all our ways so that our spirit may prosper and our souls may find rest. 

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb,I knew you.Before you were born,I set you apart for my holy purpose.I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven!The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.

Matthew 6:8 Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

God is working on something...something larger than we can wrap our human pixels of comprehension around.  There was much more I wanted to say today...but I hear Him saying Shhhh.  Be silent....Be still.

So...of course this made me remember  a time years ago when He said this to me.

I have no idea what it is ....but I know He does, I will go find it now.  Be Still and Know He is God - That is my prayer for us all today.....Back in a minute with the close of this post.....

Linger and Listen

Shhhhhh…
What a marvelous day, my love,
Feel the warmth of my love,
Rest in the fragrance that circles my home.

Linger…
Here at my side and partake
Of the gifts I so richly provide.
Your love for me grows as you trust in my ways.


Listen…
My love to my heart as it speaks,
To you my dear, longing to please me,
My love runs so deep; you can never run out.

Peace….
You partake and peace you release,
Because in you I do dwell,
Your light shines to all,
Whether it’s day bright or dark night.

Silence…
You hear when the voice is not true
And no memories do you now have.
Share in my delight of the spirit in flight.
By Candace Huffmaster ©

Inspired and Strenthened by Hearing of Their Faith.

Go back and read Genesis 39:1-10. When I read what Joseph had to stand up again, denying the comforts that somepeople might frivolously indulge in to get immediate enjoyment or feed their ego, I am so grateful that he did not. It gives me strength to know that God's love, provision and plan for the good of many is worth standing up for. Oh how I want to always have the strength from God to stand up against the things that try to influence me to deny God and serve myself. With God I know all things are possible through Christ.

Praise Him!
Candace

Redirected

The Lord was with Joseph. —Genesis 39:2

At the age of 16, pianist Leon Fleisher made his formal debut at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic. He went on to win prestigious international competitions and played in the world’s finest concert halls. But at the age of 37, Fleisher was struck with dystonia, a neurological condition that crippled his right hand. After a period of despondency and withdrawal, he turned to teaching and conducting, because, as he said, he loved music more than he loved the piano.

When our dreams are shattered, how do we react? After Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, was sold as a slave by his brothers (Gen. 37:12-36), he could have given in to self-pity and self-indulgence. Instead, Joseph remained true to the Lord. Four times in Genesis 39, we read that “the Lord was with” Joseph (vv.2-3,21,23), and his actions revealed his own faithfulness to God. By his exemplary life, those he served in Egypt recognized God’s presence with him.

Do we love God more than our own dreams? Although Joseph must have grieved the loss of his past and what his life could have been, the Lord led him to a calling he had never imagined. Today, the Lord longs to lead us. Are we willing to be redirected by Him? — David C. McCasland, Daily Bread Devotional RBC Ministry

My cherished plans may go astray,

My hopes may fade away;

But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead,

For He doth know the way. —Overton

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. —Proverbs 16:9

I CAN do all things....but what if I don't want to?

Mason gave me his reading this morning and suggested that I pass it on, He was inspired by it and wanted to share it with everyone in hopes we too would glean from TD Jakes. It is from Strength for Every Moment.

I Can Do All Things

I can do all things through Christ who strenthens me (Philippians 4:13)

Deception is a trap and stronghold that ensnares many, especially those who are not content with their present state in life. The bible instructs us to learn to be content in whatever state we find ourselves. The apostle Paul learned that lesson well......"for I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content (KJV Phil 4:11)

This is not to imply that we should be satisfied with being bound by the devil or be content with complacency and mediocrity, thus not fulfilling the call of God on our lives. Not at all. We are to work to improve ourselves while at the same time remaining totally dependent on God.
             _____________________________________________________________

Called By God

I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ’Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ’Here am I! Send me’ —Isaiah 6:8

God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, ". . . who will go for Us?" The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear "the voice of the Lord" continually asking, ". . . who will go for Us?" However, God doesn’t single out someone and say, "Now, you go." He did not force His will on Isaiah. Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, "Here am I! Send me."

Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His "Follow Me" was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard-"the voice of the Lord." In perfect freedom we too will say, "Here am I! Send me." - By Oswald Chamber



----I do not think it was any coincidence that God put these two voices together to speak this subject into our lives. They both were addressing God calling us to do His will. He created us, He has a plan for what He created. I hope the poem below help us reflect on this subject and see ourselves through His eyes, with His heart.
I pray that we wait patiently for God to prepare us and the path. I pray we remember it is His HIGH calling. we simply participate as He needs.

In Christ name, with love,

Candace



Connective Cog

We are but a part, a connective cog,
Positive energy or broken and exposed.
Our eyes connect, though infused by our hearts,
With goodness to help or darkness shall fall.

To look in the face of those who we meet,
The circular pathways stare back in our face.

Each person, a universe…we all exist in our own,
Created no different than the world that we know.
Who rules the planet? Your pathways meet…
The rotation and pull…does it collide or make way?
Is there lift off or desolation? Could anything exist?

One God and one vision, there’s no room for more,
Our Creator, divine, who cannot be improved.
We take our blessings then think we know more
Move out of His energy, our natural pull
Negative energy, like opposite poles,
Has to connect with the positive to realign,
Ending the force which repels, and throws down,

The universe you travel, but do you realize your path?
Is it synergy in motion or out of control?

God in His provision, made perfect your path.
Study and ask Him, He will positively pull
Your desire to travel in His universe alone.

By Candace Huffmaster ©