Can you Relate?

Be sure to read the book of Mark and always discern for yourselves my view points.  That is the great thing about our bible.  The perspectives are all over the place; just like ours.  The common denominator is all view points lead to God's truth, through Christ empowered by His spirit, which searches the depths of all view points even the view points of God. 

When we do not, or are not "willing" to relate to someone then there is no commonality.  We do not have to agree in all ways.  However, we do have to be willing to respect the relationship.  This is one large factor we are told several truths about by God's word: 

• As far as it depends on you, be at peace with everyone.
• Please God not man.
• Be above reproach in all of your ways.
• The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
• Seek first His kingdom and all else will be added to this.
• and the biggie...All things are common to man.

So, today we are going to go a bit further as we listen to Mark spin his tale of the Good News and the Way. 

Yesterday we left off with Jesus' baptism by John the baptizer. I have always found it interesting that the bible states immediately the Spirit brought him into the desert where he was tempted for 40 days.  He was there with wild animals and the angels took care of Him.  This always reminds me of David, as he went to King Saul, stating the reason he felt confident taking on Goliath was due to the numerous lions, tigers and bears he faced defending his flock.  He did not tout his skill; in fact it was never even mentioned.  David proclaimed the Lord God Almighty's might and deliverance through each encounter.  He related this in confidence to how God would not fail him as he trusted in this relationship to face the barbarian, Goliath.

Christ was a success in all he faced and the angels did in deed come to his aid; after his success.  Many times, I think we might want the angels to come to our aid prior to us giving our all to fight the good fight.  We focus on our own limited strength and do not open up to stand firm on God's word and let it do the fighting for us.  That IS what Christ did.  Each time Satan came at his vulnerability, lustful human nature etc, Christ didn't enter a battle.  He simply spoke what sustains us - the words that proceed from the mouth of God himself.  It sounds so simple, yet our flesh is so incredibly weak when we do not prosper our Spirit - as our soul prospers. 

Some time after Christ came back from the 40 days, John was imprisoned.  Jesus went on into Galilee preaching a very straight forward Good News: 

• The time has come, and the Kingdom of God is near. 
• Change the way you think. 
• Change the way you act.
• Believe in the Good News

We know we are supposed to seek the Kingdom with all our human strength AND the strength he gives us.  Sometimes we forget this and try to go it alone.  This is never a good idea, but we have to be EVER MINDFUL of God in order to detect these things.  1 Corinthians verse 20 and 21 state: Where is the wise person? Where is the scholar? Where is the persuasive speaker of our time? Hasn’t God turned the wisdom of the world into nonsense? The world with its wisdom was unable to recognize God in terms of his own wisdom. So God decided to use the nonsense of the Good News we speak to save those who believe.

I have chosen one verse in particular for each of us to lean on today:

In the morning, long before sunrise, Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray.  Mark 1:35 GW

Just because Christ went away from people doesn't mean he was alone.  Today, get away from people and alone with our Lord God Almighty it will delight the Spirit and be rest for your soul.  I promise! (only because His promises are faithful and true).  I hope you Do relate.

With Love,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly™

Be as Little Children

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1a

"I have an important business meeting in the morning. Would you please set the alarm for 5:30 a.m.?" I said to my wife.

"Oh, that won't be necessary. Just tell the Lord what time you want to wake up. He does it for me all the time," my wife said.

I rolled my eyes in disbelief. "Well, I'd feel more comfortable if we set the alarm."

"Okay, ye of little faith. But just to prove my point I am going to ask the Lord to wake us up just before 5:30."

The next morning I awoke before the alarm went off. I looked at the clock. It read 5:15. I looked at my wife, who had just awakened at the same time with an I-told-you-so smile.

Sometimes we wrongfully view God as someone we go to for only the "big things." The idea of "bothering God" for such a trivial matter seems foolish and presumptuous. However, when you were a child and had to get up in the morning for school, didn't your mom or dad come wake you up? They were your parents, and you could come to them with the most trivial concerns or requests. Why would our heavenly Father be any less approachable? Perhaps our problem is that we simply have not developed a level of intimacy with God so that we feel the freedom to approach Him at these daily, routine levels. We often operate with an unwritten code that says our needs must have a certain degree of importance or crisis before we come to God with them. This is not God's character towards us.

Does the Lord desire this level of intimacy with you and me? The apostle Paul exhorted us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17 KJV). There is never a caution to pray only about matters of greater importance.

Today, go to God with matters that you might view as trivial and would normally avoid bringing to God. Ask God to increase your level of intimacy with Him. You may even be able to get rid of your alarm clock.

Ministry in Word

Seek Him – Part 3

寻求他 – 第三篇

Jeremiah 29:13
耶利米书29:13

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
你们寻求我，若专心寻求我，就必寻见。

Continued from Part 2
上接第二篇

True faith is trusting God on His promises. The magi went to King Herod to inquire of the where about of the new born king. In turn Herod inquired of the religious leaders, the chief priests and scribes of the people, who quoted the Biblical prophecy of His birthplace (Mt 2:4-5). The magi had faith in the Biblical prophecies as the utterance of God, which led them to Jesus. When they searched for God with all their heart, their true
faith, they found Jesus.
真信心是相信神的应许。博士去问希律王新生王的所在，希律王转问宗教领袖就是大祭司和文士，他们引述圣经中关于他出生地的预言〔太2:4-5〕。博士相信圣经预言是神说的话，这就带他们到耶稣那里。当他们专心，就是以真信心寻求神，他们就寻见耶稣。
We must put our faith in God’s Word in our search for Him. Jesus told the Jews, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” (Jn 5:39-40) When we search for the Word with true faith, we will come to Jesus for He is the Word (Jn 1:1).

我们寻求神的时候一定要对神的话〔道〕有信心。耶稣告诉犹太人说：「你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我作见证的就是这经。然而，你们不肯到我这里来得生命。」〔约5:39-40〕当我们以真信心寻求道，我们就会到耶稣那里因为他就是道〔约1:1〕。

3. Search with passion
三、 以热忱寻求

In our search for Jesus we must be active to pursue Him at where He is, not passive to wait for Him to come to where we are. Matthew 2:1 says that the magi traveled to Jerusalem from the east. Judging from their expensive gifts to Jesus these magi must be royalties in their own countries. They traded their comfort and dignity at home for long distance travel hardship and risk to search for Jesus. In ancient time travel involved many difficulties and dangers, without the modern accommodations and hospitality we have taken for ranted. The magi did not just put up with minor inconvenience to search for Jesus, they sacrificed greatly for it.
我们寻求耶稣必须主动地在他所在处去追求他，而非被动地等候他到我们所在处。马太2:1说博士从东方到耶路撒冷。从他们送耶稣的贵重礼物可看到这些博士在他们的本国一定是贵族。他们以在家的舒适和尊贵来换取长途跋涉的艰辛和危险去寻求耶稣。古时候远行有许多困难和危险，没有我们认为当然的现代化住宿及招待。博士并非只是忍耐些微的不便去寻求耶稣，而是为此作了重大牺牲。

This shows how passionate they were with their search for the new born king. They were willing to adjust themselves from where they were to where Jesus was. When they searched for God with such passion, they found Jesus.
这表现他们寻求新生王是多热切。他们愿意从他们的所在处调整到耶稣的所在处。当他们以如此热忱来寻求神，他们就寻见耶稣。

When we are ready to adjust ourselves from where we are to where God is, we are ready to find Jesus.
当我们可以从我们所在处调整到神所在处，我们就可以寻见耶稣。

Conclusion
结语

God told the Israelites and us through the prophet Jeremiah, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

神通过先知耶利米告诉以色列人及我们：「你们寻求我，若专心寻求我，就必寻见。」

Search for God with all our heart means we search with the right reason, the true faith, and great passion. When we do, God promises us that we will find Him. Let us love our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength (Dt 6:5).
专心寻求神的意思是我们以正确理由、真正信心和认真热忱来寻求。若我们如此行，神应许我们要寻见他。让我们尽心、尽性、尽力爱我们的神。〔申6:5〕

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9

The River Flows From It

Genesis 2:8-15 (NAS)



The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. That's where he put the man whom he had formed. The LORD God made all the trees grow out of the ground. These trees were nice to look at, and their fruit was good to eat. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil grew in the middle of the garden.  A river flowed from Eden to water the garden. Outside the garden it divided into four rivers. The name of the first river is Pishon. This is the one that winds throughout Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is pure. Bdellium and onyx are also found there.)  The name of the second river is Gihon. This is the one that winds throughout Sudan. The name of the third river is Tigris. This is the one that flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to farm the land and to take care of it.

We see in verse 10 that a river flowed ”from” Eden to water the garden. We notice that once outside of the garden it “divided”. Once this was established “then” the Lord God took man and “put” him “in” the Garden of Eden – “Why?” So that man would farm the land and to take care of it.
This is our first life lesson where God was showing us what it looks like to “seek first the kingdom of God” because all else flow out of that. At least all Goodness does.

When I went back to Matthew to read the context of these scriptures in verses 20-34 I was amazed at what I now see.  I have a new understanding and appreciation for these words. After all when God had Adam in the garden he was perfectly clothed and in right standing with His creator. Nothing at all was between the two of them. Please read the scriptures below to prepare for where God’s story is leading us in the coming days.

I pray that we seek first His Kingdom, that we store up treasures for ourselves in heaven, and that we receive our protection for our hearts so that what flows out of it will cover the multitudes. I pray that our eye is unclouded so that we can be the light to disperse the darkness. I give thanks for our provision so that we can be filled with joy, peace, harmony, charity and show how great is our God.

In Christ, let it be done to us as He has desired,

Candace

Matthew 6:20-34 (GWT)

Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal. 21Your heart will be where your treasure is. 22“The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light in you is darkness, how dark it will be! 24“No one can serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25“So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26“Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27“Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? 28“And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. 29But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. 30That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith? 31“Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. 33But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you. 34“So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The Faithfulness of God - TGIF Devotional- by Os Hillman

"The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down." Psalm 145:13b-14

Have you ever had a relationship with someone who was faithful? You knew you could depend on that person to do what he said. You learned that his word was completely trustworthy. If he said he would call you, he would. If he said he'd be somewhere at a certain time, he'd be there. In fact, if he was late, you began to wonder if he had an accident because it was so contrary to his nature. It's great to have friends who are faithful.

God is faithful. He is faithful to fulfill every promise in His Word. Sometimes we think God isn't faithful because it appears He has not fulfilled a desire that we have. Sometimes we think He is not faithful because of a crisis event that seems to say God isn't faithful. We must remember that God is more concerned about accomplishing His ultimate purpose in the life of every believer than giving us the desires of our heart. Sometimes this results in hardship.

The Bible is full of accounts of God's faithfulness that was often accompanied by hardship. He brought Joseph out of slavery to be greatly used in a nation. He delivered the people from Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land. He gave Abraham the son of promise late in his life. He delivered David from his enemies and made him a king. In story upon story, we learn of God's faithfulness. Are you a faithful man or woman? The workplace needs faithful men and women. Take an inventory of your life today and ask God if you have been faithful with what He has entrusted to you.

Today before I opened this devotional I was trying to prioritize my responsibilities for the day.  I prayed that the mercy and grace of God cover me.  I know I will make mistakes and I know that if others don't understand what is going on with the organization and all the situations that God has us supporting so that women, children and businesses do not fall into temptation, crisis etc they might easily get offended thinking they are being put off, overlooked or not cared about. 

God basically told me to test his faithfulness to cover me...the organization and hearts of everyone He desires for us to help.  So I am.  He tells us to give what is due others, to serve as thought we are serving Him and to love above all else.  That is my prayer for all of us to day.  Also not to worry, because it will not add joy or another minute to our lives. 

With the love of Christ I ask this for us all.....above all else.
Kisses,
Candace

Ministry in Words

Seek Him – Part 1

寻求他 – 第一篇

Jeremiah 29:13

耶利米书29:13

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

你们寻求我，若专心寻求我，就必寻见。

Introduction
前言

Through the prophet Jeremiah the Lord gave the Israelites who were in exile in Babylon this promise: that they will seek God and find Him when they search for Him with all their heart. I wonder why God didn’t say that they will seek God and find Him when they search for Him with all their eyes or ears, with all their observation and attention.  This is because our God is a spirit so He is not normally visibly or audibly observable.  Besides, we cannot find Him on our own. If not for Jesus the Son of Man who came to seek and save us who were lost, we would never be able to find Him. It takes our heart that is in touch with His heart to find Him. When we seek Him as a response to His seeking us, we find Him.
神通过先知耶利米给流放在巴比伦的以色列人这个应许：就是他们寻求神，若专心寻求神，就必寻见。我觉得奇怪为什麽神并未说他们寻求神，若用眼睛或耳朵，就是用观察力或注意力寻求神，就必寻见。这是因为我们的神是一个灵，所以他通常并不是在视觉或听觉上可以查觉到的。并且我们凭自己不能寻见他，若不是耶稣这位人子来寻找拯救我们这些失丧的人，我们就永不能寻见他。我们需要有一颗摸着他的心之心方能寻见他。当我们以寻求他来回应他寻找我们的时候，我们就寻见了。

Searching for Him with all our heart means searching for Him with a totally dedicated heart. Let’s consider what constitutes our search for Him with all our heart by looking at the account of the magi who searched for the baby Jesus.
专心寻求神的意思就是全心全意寻求他。让我们看博士寻找婴孩耶稣的故事来思想专心寻求神是什麽样子的。

1. Search with the right reason
一、 以正确的理由寻求

First, searching with all our heart is searching with the right reason, the right motive. Let’s look at two passages in the Gospel of Matthew.
首先，专心寻求就是以正确的理由或动机来寻求。让我们来看马太福音的两段经文。

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." (Mt 2: 1-2)
当希律王的时候，耶稣生在犹太的伯利恒。有几个博士从东方来到耶路撒冷，说： 那生下来作犹太人之王的在那里？我们在东方看见他的星，特来拜他。〔太2:1-2〕

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Mt 2: 10-11)
他们看见那星，就大大的欢喜；进了房子，看见小孩子和他母亲马利亚，就俯伏拜那小孩子，揭开宝盒，拿黄金、乳香、没药为礼物献给他。〔太2:10-11〕

In Matthew 2:1-2, the magi declared that the reason they searched for Jesus was to worship Him. What is recorded in Matthew 2:10-11 proves that worship was their true motive. Their deeds matched their words. When they found Jesus they prostrated themselves and worshiped Him.
在马太2:1-2博士声称他们寻求耶稣的理由是要拜他，而马太2:10-11的记载证明了他们真正的动机就是敬拜。他们的言行一致，当他们找到耶稣他们就俯伏拜他。

On the other hand, during Jesus’ life time there were many people who searched for Him for various reasons other than their dedication to Jesus:
另外一方面，在耶稣的一生中有许多人并非为了对耶稣献身而寻求他，而是为了各样不同的理由：

>King Herod searched for baby Jesus in order to kill Him due to his own insecurity.  Failed to find Him, he even ordered the slaughter of all boys age 2 and below to make sure that the new born king was eliminated.
>希律王因为他自己感到不安全因而寻找婴孩耶稣来杀害他。但他找不到，就下令屠杀所有两岁及以下的男孩，要肯定那新生王被灭绝了。

When we seek God but will not let Him rule in our life, we are, like Herod, wanting to be in control ourselves.
当我们寻求神但又不愿意让他掌管我们的生命，我们就像希律一样要自己掌握一切。


> After the crowd, numbering 5000 of men alone, were fed miraculously, they searched for Jesus in order to crown Him so that they might always have their fill.
>那群众中光是男人就有五千，他们神奇地得到喂饱後，就寻求耶稣来推他为王好让他们永远得饱足。

When we look to God only for our physical needs, we may miss the greater spiritual blessings. Jesus said that our physical needs are important, “but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to [us] as well.” (Mt 6:33)
当我们只为了我们肉体上的需要来仰望神，我们就有可能失去那更大的属灵福气。耶稣说我们肉体的需要是重要的，但「[我]们要先求他的国和他的义，这些东西都要加给[我]们了。」〔太6:33〕

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we seek Him with all our heart so we may find Him.

愿我们专心寻求他，好让我们寻见他。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9

The Best Fishing Spot

If we look back at yesterdays verses in Genesis we know that God even created the best fishing holes.  Well maybe that wasn't his defining purpose, however we can utilize it for an analogy =D.

If you are an avid fisherman, when you are trying to catch a certain "kind" of fish you look for where they are drawn to by their nature.  You know what type of lure, bait or trap to utilize and they you wait patiently after you have "set" the trap.  This is because that is how God ordained things to be.  He created the origin of nature, distinction of characteristics of species and habitats in which they would thrive.

We can use our minds to understand all these complex thoughts, but can you imagine being the Deity that created them?  Can you imagine what God imagined (and it was so)?  The book of Job enlightens us on God's answer to the questions; Chapter 38:

Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm.  Who is this that belittles my advice with words that do not show any knowledge about it.  Brace yourself like a man!  I will ask you and you will teach me.
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?  Tell me if you have such insight.  Who determined it's dimensions?  Certainly, you know!  Who stretched a measuring line over it?  On what were it's footing's sunk?  Who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?  "Who shut the sea behind gates when it burst through and came out of the womb, when I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it up in dark clouds, what I set a limit for it and put up bars and gates, when I said, " You may come this far but no farther.  Here your proud waves will stop?  "Have you ever given order to the morning or assigned a place for the dawn so that it could grab the earth by its edges and shake wicked people out of it?  The earth changes like clay stamped by a seal, and parts of it stand out like fold in clothing.  Wicked people are deprived of their light and an arm raised in victory is broken.  have you gone to the springs in the sea or walked through the valleys of the oceans depths?  Have the gateways to death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gateways to total darkness?  Have you even considered how wide the earth is?  Tell me, if you know all of this!

"What is the way to the place where light lives?  Where is the home of darkness so that you may lead it to its territory, so that you may know the path to its home?  You must know because you were born then and have lived such a long time!  Have you been to the warehouses where snow is stored or seen the warehouses for hail that I have stored up for the time of trouble, and the day of battle and war?  Which is the way to the place where light is scattered and the east wind is spread across the earth?  "Who made a channel for the flooding rains and a path for the thunderstorms to bring rain on a land where no one lives, on a desert where there are no humans, to saturate the desolate wasteland in order to make it sprout with grass?  Does the rain have a father?  Who gave birth to the dewdrops?  From whose womb came the ice, and who has given birth to the frost in the air?  The water hardens like a stone, and the surface of the ocean freezes over.  "Can you connect the chains of the constellation Pleiades or untie the ropes of Orion?  Can you bring out the constellations at the right time or guide Ursa Major with its cubs?  Do you know the laws of the sky or make them rule the earth?  Can you call to the clouds and have a flood of water cover  you?  Can you send lightening flashes so that they may go and say to you, Here we are?  Who put wisdom in the heart or gave understanding to the mind?  Who is wise enough to count the clouds or pour out the water jars of heaven when the dirt hardens into clumps and the soil clings together? 

We will start back tomorrow with the rest of God's answer to our questions..as for today. Sit with him to listen and learn from the Master of spinning thoughts, story lines and purposes.  Glean from His knowledge, Listen to His plans and be more than wooed.....Be inspired...Be Propelled....Live the Zoe Life He created.
Starting this moment, it a choice, an option.  It is not forced because He loves you deeply, honestly, passionately but mostly freely with a love that is intended to lift us up, feel soft and beautiful, and yet boldly fierce to protect you.  Please See that today.
With the Love of our Christ,
Candace

A Shadow of Things to Come

Colossians 2:17 states:


"These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts the shadow belongs to Christ."

I decided to go back to the beginning and see if I couldn’t find something resembling the first shadow. We have been speaking about things going before Christ. However, we know that God is the beginning and the end. This must mean that He went first, then we Go, then Christ Goes. This is such a great ebb and flow. It is the perfect example of how God is in all things and fulfills all things.

God is behind all things….so it stands to reason that everything else must go before His presence.

We will be pulling from segments of past conversations and blending them with new pieces of information. Get ready to sit with God and allow your shell to burst….your roots to grow down…and His life to sprout.

I preface this journey of enlightenment with 1 Corinthians 2

A letter from Paul:

Brothers and Sisters:

When I came to you, I didn’t speak about God’s mystery as if it were some kind of brilliant message or wisdom. While I was with you, I decided to deal with only one subject – Jesus Christ, who was crucified. When I came to you, I was weak. I was afraid and very nervous. I didn’t speak my message with persuasive intellectual arguments. I spoke my message with a show of spiritual power so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power. However, we do use wisdom to speak to those who are mature. It is a wisdom that doesn’t belong to this world or to the rulers of this world who are in power today and gone tomorrow. We speak about the mystery of God’s wisdom. It is a wisdom that has been hidden, which God has planned for our glory before the world began. Not one of the rulers of this world has known it. If they had, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory. But as Scripture says:

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.”

God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, especially the deep things of God. After all, who knows everything about a person except that person’s own spirit? In the same way, no one has known everything about God except God’s Spirit. Now, we didn’t receive the spirit that belongs to the world, Instead, we received the Spirit who comes from God so that we could know the things which God has freely given us. We don’t speak about these things using teachings that are based on intellectual arguments like people do. Instead, we use the Spirit’s teachings. We explain spiritual things to those who have the Spirit. A person who isn’t spiritual doesn’t accept the teachings of God’s Spirit. He thinks they’re nonsense. He can’t understand them because a person must be spiritual to evaluate them. Spiritual people evaluate everything but are subjected to no one’s evaluation.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can teach him?”

However, we have the mind of Christ.

I thank God that we are not left to flounder like we were lost and unloved.

Be still and know He is God…and that He loves you deeply, honestly, passionately and freely.

Kisses,

Candace

Movers and Shakers...Among the Daisies

If you are just joining us, welcome.  We are continuing on with the pieces of what God has planted or our puzzle pieces.  Let's water those seeds today and just lay in the warmth of His sun light. Soon everyone will be able to see the daisy He has been tending.

Yesterday we stopped with Luke 10:38-42 Martha was irritated that she had company and no help.  That is not really very hospitable.  A guest does not come into our homes for the W Hotel treatment.  They come to visit, to deepen relationship.  We forget that most of the time.  If what someone desires is a B&B with you "B-ing" the employee of the month, then maybe you should give them the number and directions to the W. 

All kiding aside, and back on track now - Christ had quiet a day, the day He walked into Martha's house.  He had been traveling, teaching, casting out demons.  All along His road He was looking for people that would listen and learn.  If it had of been me I would have been a bit tired - but God is so patient and Christ exemplified this when the diciples were still needing to grow up a bit.  They desired to get everyone to stop "acting" like they were part of their God team when they in deed were not.  However, Christ corrected their view of things. He told them his fathers' moto: "If  they aren't against you, they are for you." This did not mean that those individuals come come with them on their journey though.

Christ needed the ones that were willing to be in His shadow.  The "rebels with a cause" could not come.  It seems many wanted to be part of the "Jesus Train", to be part of the "Movers and Shakers" of their times.  But Gods agenda had to have those that when they had done all to stand  - and the shakin' started - they would not move away. 

"So who are you? Are you a "Mover and Shaker" or are you a "Shaken and not Moved"?

Moving on....This same day atleast 3 men were shaken....Christ kept moving down the road.  He didn't stop.

He was walking toward Mary and Martha's house with His disciples talking about the things that were to come.  This is the conversation they were having:

(GWT)Luke 10: 1- 8 After this, the Lord appointed other disciples to go ahead of him to every city and place that he intended to go. They were to travel in pairs.

He told them, “The harvest is large, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops. Go! I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don’t carry a wallet, a traveling bag, or sandals, and don’t stop to greet anyone on the way. Whenever you go into a house, greet the family right away with the words, ‘May there be peace in this house.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting will be accepted. But if that’s not the case, your greeting will be rejected. Stay with the family that accepts you. Eat and drink whatever they offer you. After all, the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from one house to another. Whenever you go into a city and the people welcome you, eat whatever they serve you. Heal the sick that are there, and tell the people, ‘The kingdom of God is near you!’

As if Jesus' day had not been long enough, He then bumps into a religious expert who had something to prove.  So Christ took the time to speak a tale to Him.  He didn't stop though..He finally reached the door of Martha's house.

Look how God had gone before them all day long...planting those seeds.  He watered them, nurtured them, protected them.  This one day He planted so many seeds He could have a very fragrant center piece from the daisies if they desire to flower.  He is doing His work, that of a diligent farmer.  He also knows where to send His workers so that they will be most productive at working what has been planted.

He scatters and tells us to do as He does..not to stop.  He tell people my workers are coming back in before me.  Be prepared!  Accept them as My Fathers workers.  He tells us that we are to greet people with a blessing of peace.  The rest He is aware of and has provided.  He does not desire for us to be in lack of provision.  This is the reason He says not to stop until you get to where you are to be going. He tells us not to hop around like we are chasing after the wind, but to stay until our work is done.  He moves us.  Mary understood this.  Martha was unsettled and working in her own understanding.  Christ cared so He shared some really good news with her.  He told her Martha, it's okay...take a break.  I just want to be "with you".  I don't have a need for a B&B.  My Father has taken care of all my needs.  Just "B" with me.  Nothing else need be added.

This day, I pray that you just B.  Be...Cause.

As KB understands, there is only One Cause and that is Love....Love makes everything beautiful.  I pray that you flower..... as He made you to flower. 

With love and mercy...shine of His glory today,
Candace



 

Because, Because, Because, Because, BECAUSE……….

Yesterday we had wonderful discussions about what we see up ahead. I thank you all for sharing the pieces of your lives so that we can have broader understanding of what we all saw. Don’t forget to keep your eyes set ahead. Remember the rear view mirror is only for glancing!

Because of the wonderful things He does…………

To continue on down our yellow brick road, “what if” Dorothy had not met the Tin Man? What if they had not met Scarecrow? Most importantly, what if Lion had not met them? Each of them knew the wonderful things the wizard had done; they believed he possessed a magical ability to transform them, why had they not traveled down this road of golden opportunity before?

Our primary verses we were discussing yesterday opened our discussion on thought life. So today I want you to think about this:

Do you equate God to the Wizard of Oz? Do you seek Him out because…because… because…because…because… because of the wonderful things he does? If that is the case, we do not love and desire a relationship with God we are using Him for what He can do for us. I don’t know about you but it really is disappointing, and rather hurtful, when I trust that someone desires friendship / relationship only to find out they wanted to use me for their gain. Relationships are supposed to be a “give” as well as a “take”. I also know we all have treated another like this; I hope it was inadvertent. Only God knows, so let us be quick to forgive…but always discern safety when allowing others back in. Sometimes we must do what is best for someone and not what they would like for us to do. That is Agape Love.

This Psalm speaks of the What If’s of Agape Love, I entitled the pros simply “IF” I pray each of you realize your peace that surpasses all understanding today….and know that you are loved by the One and Only God of the Universe.

In Christ,
Candace


IF

If I had not been called
I would not know how to answer
If I had not opened the door
He would not have entered
IF I had not welcomed him in
He would not have stayed
If I had not asked the question
He would not have answered
IF he had not been patient
I would not be able to share of his love
If I had not needed his encouragement
He would not have made it available
If I had not experienced hardship
I would not have know that I needed him
If he had not allowed me the pain of my choices
I would not have gained humility
If he had set no boundaries
I would not have grown
If I had not turned to Him
I would not know true peace
IF I had not desired TRUE peace
I would never have seen my Lord

My Lord loves through teaching,
He embraces and encourages while giving us more
He gives a wealth of strength and peace
We gain courage through facing the task
We employ peace to mentally stay true
There are so many facets of his love
We tend to only consider a few
We strive to accomplish in our own strength
Without Him, we have no lasting means
Conversing with Him grants us His visions
It is then that we understand
He desires to give us increase
because He still has much to do
We must be willing to empty our self;
To be filled with Him to the full
By this He dwells right here among us
In any form that will give Him room
He is not one….. He is many
He is abundant, everyone desiring to love
He is patient, kind and understanding
He is rich, poor, every race and language known
He is every size, every age and generation
His hope is for us all to know…..
We are to love deeply and tenderly,
Be open, honest and true,
To seek eagerly with passion;
To be genuine in all that we do
But mostly - to do all in freedom
With wings that will carry, cover and lift
Bringing others into His presence
A sacrifice He too chose to make
Together we are One…Complete…In Christ
By Candace Huffmaster ©

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

Which Way Do I Go.....Which Way do I Go?

If you read in the old testement you will see where the followers of God were always "waiting" on the Lord to tell them what to say, do or where to go. For some reason, we think that God only helps those that help themselves. There are things in the bible that tell us we must work as if we are working unto the Lord. But that does not imply that we are to run ahead of Him.


Think about these words from Proverbs 21 and consider that in Jeremiah God asks us to stand at the cross road, ask for the way that is good before we set out. He also asks us not to lean on our own understanding, but to consider His ways which are higher than our. Lastly, He loves us and promises that if we will just listen to Him, that He has plans for us to prosper and not to harm us. So let's trust Him!

(Gods Word translation)Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is like streams of water. Both are under the LORD's control. He turns them in any direction he chooses. 2 A person thinks everything he does is right, but the LORD weighs hearts. 3 Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to the LORD than offering a sacrifice. 4 A conceited look and an arrogant attitude, which are the lamps of wicked people, are sins. 5 The plans of a hard-working person lead to prosperity, but everyone who is [always] in a hurry ends up in poverty. 6 Those who gather wealth by lying are wasting time. They are looking for death. 7 The violence of wicked people will drag them away since they refuse to do what is just. 8 The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the behavior of those who are pure is moral. 9 Better to live on a corner of a roof than to share a home with a quarreling woman. 10 The mind of a wicked person desires evil and has no consideration for his neighbor. 11 When a mocker is punished, a gullible person becomes wise, and when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.

I pray that God keep you today and make His face to shine upon each of you.

With Love
Candace

Parked For Now

From Daily Bread Devotionals

READ: Numbers 9:19-23

I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. —Psalm 40:1

Parking my car has been a lifelong problem for me. It really wasn’t a high priority with my driving instructor, so I never learned to back up into a parking space until many years later. He also skipped the parallel parking lesson, and I still avoid that unless there’s enough space for two or three cars.

I’ve also struggled to understand a statement I heard when I was a young Christian: “God can’t steer a parked car.” I took that as a challenge to shift my life into motion, and along the way God would guide me in the right direction. It’s an interesting thought, but it’s not always the way God works. Occasionally, God does want us to “stay parked” for a while.

At times, when Moses was in the wilderness, God kept the Israelites in one place. He led them by a cloud, and when it stayed still for many days, “the children of Israel . . . did not journey” (Num. 9:19). Waiting isn’t always easy, but sometimes God wants us to stay right where He has put us. The psalmist reminds us, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart” (27:14).



You may feel that you’re stuck and just spinning your wheels in your service for God. But keep your heart open to God’s leading. Then you’ll be ready to shift gears when you hear God say, “Let’s go this way.” — Cindy Hess Kasper

Praying, resting, waiting, trusting—

These are words that tell a story;

As we wait for God to lead us,

He responds, “Just seek My glory.” —Hess

God orders our stops as well as our steps.