How Can I Hold Something I Can't See?

John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you.  Do not let your heart be troubled nor let it be fearful.

Matthew 10:11-14 When you go into a city or village, look for people who will listen to you there.  Stay with them until you leave.  When you go into a house, greet the family.  If it is a family that listens to you, allow your greeting to stand.  But if it is not receptive, take back your greeting.  If anyone doesn't welcome you or listen to what you say - leave that house or city and shake it's dust off your feet.

Our "Honestly" topics have been: keeping the peace, being pressed on all sides, integrity, staying on the correct path and being aware of our journey amongst others.  While we have many kitchy analogies Christ has the answer; peace.  And He is clear that there is more than one peace.  He lovingly tells us to listen to His advice, His wisdom, His warning.......

Christ did not want us to be afraid of this world and the antics of others.  He told us He was not going to abandon us like everyone else does.  He also doesn't commit himself unto us as the world does.  Christ left us more than empty words, an empty gift box if you will.  He is the Good Sheppard; His parting memento for us to "cling to" until He returns for us was His Peace.   

Think about this:  Christ used this peace to get Him through everything He experienced.  It wasn't like some hand-me down because He wasn't going to need it any longer. It was something HE clutched which empowered Him, silenced the raging storms, allowed Him to not get offended, comforted Him when everyone else ridiculed Him, left Him, abused Him.......  It was precious to him!  We also know that there is more than one peace.  Think about all the "things" we hold on to claiming momentary peace.  But those are not what He was talking about.  His ONE and ONLY precious peace He could leave us and did not withhold from us.  Christ was going home.  He was one within God and God is LOVE.  There is no fear in LOVE.  So there is never a disturbed moment in eternity. Where He is Liberty and that IS peace. 

We may have been told this, even claim the knowledge of it; but do we really believe it?  IF we do believe it, why do we not "hold on to it"?  Do we set it down?  Do we throw it at someone?  Do we open the box and perceive nothing is there?  WHAT does it look like?  Would we know it if we WERE holding it????????

In my opinion these points are the reason for our delima, it's an enigma to us.  We cannot understand what it "Looks Like" we only perceive if we have or do not have it based on our feelings. Yet, we are told not to be driven by our emotions.  Sounds crazy doesn't it?  But God isn't trying to feed us with frenzy.  He is desiring us to think, to be still, to listen and learn. 

So...let's pick up where we left off.  We had just aligned ourselves with the accuser.  We all know we would never do that purposefully.  But remember, we were pressed and feeling like dust.  WHAT Happened???
Trusting the word of God, I'd have to say we did not heed the discerning words of Christ from Matthew 10. (oops!) 

Remember from the Deeply Series, we discussed "extending peace"  We reflected on our peace not being received, or sometimes it was taken but not shared.  When we extend peace, but the peace is not returned we are supposed to leave "with our peace". We are not called to be bound again as if we were never liberated.  We are not to stick around and get pummelled!  Even in marriage we are told if the one we are bound to decides they do not want to believe the truth, we are to allow them to go.  We are not "under" obligation or bondage in such a case; but to remember God has called us to be peaceable people. 

Sometimes I think we kick dust from our feet after we have given away our peace.  When I think about this I see us acting a bit like Herman Munster throwing a temper tantrum. I am embedding the YouTube link to an episode of The Munsters where Herman starts out teaching Edie their family values on being peaceable people.  However, when Herman's own rubber hit the road his vehicle  did not quiet stay on his well intended path.  I don't know if the ONLY reason Christ had to leave His perfect environment in the heavenlies was to show us "what it looks like when the rubber hits the road and stays on track to the finish line" or not, but I do know we really should be grateful that He did. 

We get our biblical definition of "hold peace" from the Greek word SIGAO - which means to keep silent, keep close (secret, silence), hold peace. Sigao is from the primary Greek word SIGE meaning to hiss, silence.  This reminded me of when Christ was being pummelled by the crowds, we are told He kept silent:  He held his words, He did not enter into their battle.  He was undoubtedly being provoked......But he "held his peace" anyway. 

Lastly, I want us to be aware that holding our peace is not our weapon.  The gift was "The Peace" itself. The Greek word EIRENE (which phonetically sounds like irony :0) it is defined as peace, rest - denoting an absence or end to strife.  It is a state of untroubledness! Can you imagine what it would be like to abide in undisturbed well being?  Here is a further description from Lexical Aids: 

Such a state of peace is the object of divine and saving promise and is brought about by God's mercy, granting deliverance and freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as a result of sin.  Peace as a Messianic blessing is that state brought about by the grace and loving mind of God wherein the derangement and distress of life caused by sin are removed.  hence, the message of salvation is called the Gospel of peace.  It can only be the result only of accomplished reconciliation, referring to the new relationship between man and God brought about by the atonement.

I pray that today, firstly you enjoy the relationships around you.  Be out there among people as salt and light.  Don't be some heavy legalistic non relate-able martyr that a worldly person is offended by you.  Remember, you are in their world - they are not in yours.  You are supposed to be leading them into another dimension.  You cannot do that if they are running the other way from you.  Give them something which resembles peace, be something brilliant that makes them take a second glance!  Allow Christ to walk among them and meet them right where they are - hopefully if you and I will stand in the moment silently pressed between the heavens and what is below, His spirit will flood their realm and they will be amazed by His truth flowing up from within us.  Enjoy this episode -
Have a Holy Halloween - BE a Holy Spirit today!
Kisses,
Candace

Layer Upon Layer

Today read this and think about the questions then journal - we WILL be having a discussion utilizing some of YOUR thoughts Friday......it will be FUN.....REALLY =D
My prayers and heart are chasing you down to day.....just bask in it!

Kisses,
Candace


Beautiful Mystery
Lift up my heart, that I might sing,
Beautiful melodies, in praise of your name
Open my arms, that I might embrace,
All of your children, in need of your grace
Put forth my feet, that I might dwell,
Among the lost shinning, to pass on your light
Burst your breath from my lips, which worship your words,
Their deaf ears must hear to follow you home
Give my eyes vision, which I gladly receive,
To aid those held captive….to finally be freed.

All that I am was created for you,
For relationship, family, courage and love,
To strengthen and give beauty, among a fallen and lost world

Helplessly falling, they have no strength to withstand,
Be there, embrace them, and steady their stance….
Your hand is strong now, the grip is in mine
I hold you tight and will never let go
My brave little angel you are never alone,
Pick up and flutter; you do that so well
 With sounds of your laughter….from my eyes are tears of joy
You are home now and happy; Oh, I welcome you so…..
Please never leave me I have waited so long,
To be here with you…… inside your soul

Don’t look back embarrassed, I have washed all away
Let’s move away quickly: be free of this space
Your home is my mansion and filled with my grace

Women and beauty -please help our eyes to see;
What is it you are saying, which will set them all free?

Depth is like water: mysteries unknown,
Except to our Father whom created ebb and flow
Beauty is a mystery; it dwells in the mind;
And you all were created, within His divine
Seeing is mere sight: pleasures of the flesh;
A touch ignites feelings; the heat could consume
When emotions are pure the heart is etched in love
Now that my beloved is beauty, so let us unfold

Waves are like thoughts; they rise from the deep,
The heart of the pull gives essence its seat
Layer upon layer, it washes and returns,
When mixed with emotions, all can crash upon the shore
Positive - negative all lie within,
The power unyielding increases till released,
Gaining momentum which give rise to the wake
Lifting or hurling, only the depth knows,
We get the experience, when we let it all go
Smell is induction, grabbing your mind,
Flowers and sweetness, purity and just
Or shameful and putrid, smelling foul to the nose,
Flaring my nostrils to expel such a stench,
Destruction of true beauty and the cause of its descent
God is so gracious, so eloquent in all;
His sounds transcend logic, composing lyrics at will,
Each one a memory that captures you….still

Still is where He needs us, so that we may all hear
His essence, His sound waves; the explosion of space
Our minds are too small to originate such depths,
When listening we gain knowledge; He moves our world
We are inanimate, or did you not know?
Mere lifeless particles without His flow
Think of the deep, the wave and the wake……
Think of our creation, motion and form…….
Then death through resurrection: His life in new space

Air is in everything God breathed to form,
When His breath is depleted, it surges back home
Who then has the right, to take breath away?
To suffocate the creation of Gods own mighty hand
If water can kill you, take your breath away….
Remove yourself from turbulence before it overtakes

Remember your creation, the miracle of life:
Breath taken, life given – The breath of true life
How mighty that miracle, of the very first breath,
Starting the journey, of all ebb and flow,
Time and tides written……… so long ago
To my Father and Creator, I lift up my wind,
To flutter His knowledge; give depth to His breath
In all ways relinquishing power so that I might gain strength,
To rise up on His wave of True Beauty through His grace.

~Candace Huffmaster

© 2007 Candace Huffmaster, All Rights Reserved

Seeking Serenity

Continuing on with what we see, today we are focusing on seeking. Yesterday we spoke about seeking first the Kingdom of God and allowing Him to add everything else we need into our lives.

If we ever forget what we are to be seeking, there is a very simple and straightforward way to bring it back to the plumb line. Look at the spelling of the work seeking. If you really look at the spelling you will never have to ask again. S E E K I N G....SEE KING. All we have to do is keep our eyes on the KING.

God has said to people throughout history if you have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying we should listen while it is still called today. I don't know about you, but I think this shows how much He cares. He gives us the free will to choose if we want to hear, listen, look and see.

Revelation 1:7(GWTN) states Look! He is coming in the clouds. Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. Every tribe on earth will mourn because of him. This is true. Amen

Christ told his disciples this in Matthew 13 :13-17 (GWTN)

"Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, `YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.' "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. "For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Today I am leaving you with this poem. It states what our prayer is in the closing lines.

Be well my friends and family, in Christ,
Candace



Seeking Serenity


I blank my mind to peer into yours,
Seeking serenity, believing in truth.
My faith is boundless, only through you
My mere words will perish; yours will stand true.

Through patience and stillness, calmness will flow.
Seeking so feverishly, desiring you as my strength,
In search of a purpose, but who is ever pleased?
Perfection they ask; perfect for whom?
This world is unpleased, damning and lost.
Feeling not good enough, I’m broken to my knees.

Crying, I whisper, “What’s it all for?”
Questions keep flooding, ‘til I hear myself scream,
“God, please, if you’re out there,
Please listen, I’m on my knees!”
Answers, I need answers,
I don’t know where to go…
To people who are ignorant of things they claimed to know?
What will I do? I feel hopeless… unloved.
I am so sick and lonely, weighed down with despair,
In silence, I’m sobbing, there are no words left.

My heart is still pumping,
How? I do not know.
It’s hurting and empty, shouldn’t it quit?
Sheer exhaustion and no power, I murmur, God take me now.
I know I’ve never said it, but I realize you are here.
No one else is with me… you’re the only thing left.
I remember your son Jesus; when his life was at stake,
So I know you can help me, quickly take me away.

My breath is now shallow and I’m half expecting my last.
Would he answer? I was waiting,
In fear holding onto what air was left,
Releasing simultaneously moaning… Jesus, listen to me!
If you’re out there then speak for me.
They will surely listen to the words you have to say,
It is my voice that has no volume,
Isn’t that the reason they can’t hear?

Child, I am here with you; just as you knew and believed,
Waiting for you to ask me to care for all your life,
This was your final lesson, you believed... but mostly your thoughts
Now, all is forgotten so your mind has been transformed
You can now release the burdens, live your life refreshed and free.
When you speak you now have volume, our prayer is for them to receive.

By Candace Huffmaster ©

A Universe of Humanity

 by David C McCasland  ,Our Daily Bread Devotional

During the 1920s and 30s, photographer August Sander set out to portray a cross-section of German society. Through his lens he saw factory workers and financiers, actresses and housewives, Nazis and Jews. Even though his published collection contains only people in and around his hometown of Cologne, he captured what David Propson, writing in The Wall Street Journal, called “a universe of humanity in his restricted sphere.”

That phrase strikes me as an apt description of our lives and the people we meet day by day. Wherever we live, we cross paths with people from many backgrounds and beliefs.

For years, the apostle Paul traveled and preached before being imprisoned in Rome. There he continued to touch people with the gospel because he cared about them and wanted them to know Jesus Christ. The book of Acts concludes with Paul confined in Rome, living under guard in a rented house, where he “received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:30-31).
Instead of focusing on his restrictions, Paul saw opportunities. That’s the key for us as well. There is a universe of humanity within our reach today.

You are called with a holy calling

The light of the world to be,

To lift up the lamp of the gospel

That others the light may see. —Anon.

The gospel is a priceless gift that’s offered free to everyone

For Every Thing....There is a Season

Time and Season
Open your eyes and see as I see,
Look where I turn, be one with my world,
Your breath is my wind: the seeds scattered, job done.
My presence in your faith will water their ground,
Be all I am… trust, do not stop,
Keep watch in the distance and know all is done,
Today has a future but was done in the past,
So time doesn’t matter… for all matter will pass.
Remember those passing and always be in prayer,
My spirit is with them, with you, and the air.
What once seemed impossible is now known through light,
So travel, my angel, come home, it’s your flight.
By Candace Huffmaster ©

There are times when I read Oswald's writings and I thank God that we are not friends or acquaintances. If we were, I would have to believe he was writing about conversations I have had with people or experiences I have gone through. If God had not told us that ALL things are common to man, I would not have the confidence to keep trusting and allowing Him to transform me into what He has desired me to be at creation.
Today, don't look at what your best moment has been....that is in the past. Don't look at what mistakes you made....they are only stepping stones to getting it right. Remember, all striving is chasing after the wind unless your sights are set as flint on the Kingdom of God. When that is what we are chasing after, He is faithful to add all else to that: in abundance, to the full....till it overflows in Glory for His name sake.
With love in Christ,
Candace

Be Ready in Season and Out of Season —2 Timothy 4:2

from My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Many of us suffer from the unbalanced tendency to “be ready” only “out of season.” The season does not refer to time; it refers to us. This verse says, “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season.” In other words, we should “be ready” whether we feel like it or not. If we do only what we feel inclined to do, some of us would never do anything. There are some people who are totally unemployable in the spiritual realm. They are spiritually feeble and weak, and they refuse to do anything unless they are supernaturally inspired. The proof that our relationship is right with God is that we do our best whether we feel inspired or not.

One of the worst traps a Christian worker can fall into is to become obsessed with his own exceptional moments of inspiration. When the Spirit of God gives you a time of inspiration and insight, you tend to say, “Now that I’ve experienced this moment, I will always be like this for God.” No, you will not, and God will make sure of that. Those times are entirely the gift of God. You cannot give them to yourself when you choose. If you say you will only be at your best for God, as during those exceptional times, you actually become an intolerable burden on Him. You will never do anything unless God keeps you consciously aware of His inspiration to you at all times. If you make a god out of your best moments, you will find that God will fade out of your life, never to return until you are obedient in the work He has placed closest to you, and until you have learned not to be obsessed with those exceptional moments He has given you.