Porcelain Soldier, updated

Porcelain Soldier


With images shattered all around me
In my midst there's nothing real that I can see
What I believed to be there is no longer standing
Yet here I stand to reach and try to cling

Like a porcelain soldier in the open unprotected
The truth attacked, needing only one direct blow
Suddenly the beauty of my facade splintered
And a cold darkness unknown to me appeared
My mind, my heart and limbs now shaking
As each shard tempted my tender trusting soul

What is real?  I feel my senses spinning!
Who speaks without a solid form?
Alone, my face is the only image
But other voices creep in as beneath a door
Their words, while persuasive are unfamiliar
Not at all like the mighty soldier I trust and adore
Why has He vanished when I need Him?
How can I protect my fragile form?
He would remind me of His protection
He'd explain the real depths of my pain

Now all I hear mocks, casting images
What they say, is to see He doesn't care
I shut my eyes and believe He's in my presence
I have faith that He is able to meet my need
I remember that I am a broken soldier
With many shattered pieces in my midst
I believe He will not abandon my position
Thought I'm fractured, He is able to restore all things
Then these cold callous taunts will be forgotten
Beyond the tortured forms I'll find my peace

I hear Him cry out, His spirit grieving
When it rests, my soul breathes deep
His voice rolls in, upon it pleasure
"Love now more than they're able to receive"
"Show them things, which raise their interest"
Trust and move even when you can't see
Just stand still when you cannot see me
Always remember your heart is in me

No matter how strong the forces are feeling,
He promises He reckoned the wrath of all things
Why, I still can't fully fathom........
So I live, love and cry..... but not for me
These tear fall for the bound, blind and hurting
Who trust in the shadow of what they perceive
My prayer is they reach out beyond the shadows
To find within vapors theres nothing to cling
To embrace His breath rushing in toward them
To be forever propelled by His grace

We love because our soldier first loved us
But He came, He fought hard and went away
He is not gone, His form uphold us
He is not bound like earthen vessels of this world
His body is not fragile like a porcelain soldier
Thought He too was broken, He was fully restored
It is in His Spirit my soul finds respit
And upon His holy ground all victory's are won.

By Candace Huffmaster

What Does That Even LOOK Like?

Sometimes, the bible states, we HAVE NOT because we ASK NOT.  Have you ever thought about this?  What does that even mean? We ask and ask and ask and ask, but what we don't have in our hand is something to show for it.   I know I am not the only person who feels like they are an unacceptable witness to the reality of our mighty God. 

What about this one: We are presses on all side but not crushed? REALLY!  Don't we feel that metaphorical pressure at times and "FEEL Metaphorically CRUSHED"? I'm more like a porcelain soldier.  I was not built to fight some of the things coming my way!

 God is not metaphorically present, and yet we REALLY cannot see His face!  These are real issues, for real Christ followers.  In that one statement alone if we lean on our own understanding / knowledge of good and evil / we can be totally UNDONE!

So what now?!?!  Well......we keep going anyway.  But it very difficult when we feel like a fragile warrior.  If we ARE strong, why do most of us FEEL so weak?  And yes, we have been singing "we are weak, but He is strong" since childhood. So what in the world are we supposed to even look like!! Well.....we are going to let God Himself explain it.  We will study, not just with our eyes and filing system, but as if we are watching His very mouth tell us each precious word.  We are going to get  down and dirty digging: groveling, searching, meditating, requesting, experiencing and living out our our efforts to relate WITH Him.....till we get some real glimpses of Him passing by!  Don't think I didn't hear you just now...."Well what in the world does that look like?"  "I guess you will have to sojourn with us and find out ;)"

For right now, I want you to revisit this link: Omit, Admit, Submit  and add these thought pods to your brains research files.  If you did not have a chance to click through any of the past links in yesterdays post, take some time to add that to your brains resources as well.

Keep this portion of Revelation 2, from the English Standard Translation, as a post it note in the front of your brain:

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

My prayer for us all, His body unified, be that we realize our faith cannot fail, because our only faithful piece is Him alone -He is faithful TO US.  May we toward His faithfulness with all abandon!

In the might and power of Jesus Christ Himself ~ Amen

Kisses,
Candace

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc®

©Candace Huffmaster 2013, All Copy Rights Reserved



Porcelain Soldier

Porcelain Soldier


Images shattered all around me
In my midst there is nothing as far as I can see
What I believed I saw in no longer standing
As I reach for what I held near, precious and dear
Like a porcelain soldier, attempting mighty battle
The truth attacked, needing only one direct blow
As the beautiful façade abruptly splintered
A vast cold darkness unknown to me appeared
My mind, heart and limbs now surely shaken
As the shards entered my tender trusting soul
What is real?  I feel as if all is reeling……
Why can I not see beyond this vast empty space
Me inside, all windows and doors now locked tightly
I hear deception creeping in from beneath the door
Sounding nothing familiar to my lovely soldier
Whom I trusted, loved... promising to adore
Why is not for me to know now......
To explain the unexplored depths of my ache
I hear the boast of the images past still mocking.....
Remembering their intent is to hurt showing they truly don't care
I believe I am loved and desired though,
By the only one who knows my deepest need
He tenderly cares while desiring to repair me
......All the cold callous rips into my very soul
He cries as I try to be strong, though it’s painful
To love them more than that which I have been shown
He encourages me to keep going
He gives me peace allowing me try yet again
To believe in those things which are promised
To have hope in the things I still cannot see
He tells me He knows what has happened
And that only His truth will set us free
No matter how strong the force is appearing
He promises in no way will they ever again punish me

I live and I love,  crying sometimes…..
But now the tears are not covering me
They are poured out upon those bound, blind and hurting...
Trusting in shadows of all that is real, near and here
I pray that you reach out allowing life to touch you
To ensure that what is surrounding you is really there
Blow His truth in trust that He loves all things
Never desiring to harm what is righteous, lovely and pure
We love because He first loved us…..
This I know and is where my feet are firmly ground
Because it is He that conquered all of these things
So we must know, even now,  He in us will have His eternal victory.
 
I know your battles and I care – deeply, honestly, passionately and freely
Kisses,
C
By Candace Huffmaster
©2011 All Rights Reserved