I'm a Donkey on the Edge

Yesterday we stopped our conversation with Job being on the ledge.  Desiring to believe the best of Eliphaz, I assume this was his best attempt to talk Job down.  As we noted yesterday, his approach is a bit lacking.  Just when he should have stopped and given Job a moment to process ......he kicks the gas petal and runs him down.  And he goes on......and on.....and on for somewhere around 43 verses give or take.   I rather envision Mr Crisis coming through town. (If you were not with us, look back in the archives).  Sometimes our relationships seem as though they are nothing more than a "stubborn mule".  But we must take our eyes off the individuals and realize the true battle going on.  If you have not believed me when I have talked about being aware of the voices you are listening to - those in your "memory" or "conversations" going on and no one is there (role playing in your imagination) understand those thoughts ARE coming from something.  Still don't believe me....... here is a real example:

Eliphaz on his soap box delivered this:
7 “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?


Or where were the upright destroyed?

8 “According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity

And those who sow trouble harvest it.

9 “By the breath of God they perish,

And by the blast of His anger they come to an end.

10 “The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion,

And the teeth of the young lions are broken.

11 “The lion perishes for lack of prey,

And the whelps of the lioness are scattered.

12 “Now a word was brought to me stealthily,

And my ear received a whisper of it.

13 “Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,

When deep sleep falls on men,

14 Dread came upon me, and trembling,

And made all my bones shake.

15 “Then a spirit passed by my face;

The hair of my flesh bristled up.

16 “It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance;

A form was before my eyes;

There was silence, then I heard a voice:

17 ‘Can mankind be just before God?

Can a man be pure before his Maker?

18 ‘He puts no trust even in His servants;

And against His angels He charges error.

19 ‘How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,

Whose foundation is in the dust,

Who are crushed before the moth!

20 Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces;

Unobserved, they perish forever.

21 ‘Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them?

They die, yet without wisdom.’

Chapter 5
1 “Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?


And to which of the holy ones will you turn?

2 “For anger slays the foolish man,

And jealousy kills the simple.

3 “I have seen the foolish taking root,

And I cursed his abode immediately.

4 “His sons are far from safety,

They are even oppressed in the gate,

And there is no deliverer.

5 "His harvest the hungry devour

And take it to a place of thorns,

And the schemer is eager for their wealth.

6 “For affliction does not come from the dust,

Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,

7 For man is born for trouble,

As sparks fly upward.

8 “But as for me, I would seek God,

And I would place my cause before God;

9 Who does great and unsearchable things,

Wonders without number.

10 “He gives rain on the earth

And sends water on the fields,

11 So that He sets on high those who are lowly,

And those who mourn are lifted to safety.

12 “He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd,

So that their hands cannot attain success.

13 “He captures the wise by their own shrewdness,

And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.

14 “By day they meet with darkness,

And grope at noon as in the night.

15 “But He saves from the sword of their mouth,

And the poor from the hand of the mighty.

16 “So the helpless has hope,

And unrighteousness must shut its mouth.

17 “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves,

So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

18 “For He inflicts pain, and gives relief;

He wounds, and His hands also heal.

19 "From six troublesHe will deliver you,

Even in seven evil will not touch you.

20 “In famine He will redeem you from death,

And in war from the power of the sword.

21 “You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,

And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.

22 “You will laugh at violence and famine,

And you will not be afraid of wild beasts.

23 “For you will be in league with the stones of the field,

And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

24 “You will know that your tent is secure,

For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.

25 “You will know also that your descendants will be many,

And your offspring as the grass of the earth.

26 “You will come to the grave in full vigor,

Like the stacking of grain in its season.

27 “Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is.

Hear it, and know for yourself.”


Wow - there is so much to say about all this.  Here are some things to ponder:

How far will satan go to find the perfect person to fight in the flesh for HIS purpose?
Would you know enough to discern the spirits in your midst, or would they overtake you and move within their destruction?
Are you capable of  / have you had success with pulling the reigns in and overcoming the propensity to hit the gas pedal making you one with the adversary instead of one with God?

It is only through the power of the spirit and our free will allowing Him the victory that this is possible, I pray for us all to see these moments or intersections headed for calamity and fall to our knees requesting that we not be part of destruction to those around us.  It simply does not have to continue, but it is our choice. 

I beg of you to realize this day it is you and you alone who chooses life or death, and it is through each though kept, action taken and word spoken......please hear, see and truly choose life, for Christ sake and glory to be received by him.

In Him,
Kisses,
Candace

If the Shoe Fits

 

I am sure at some point in our life we have either said or have had it said to us “If the shoe fits…wear it!”  If we did not use sarcasm to communicate, but rather wisdom with each other, we would tout a Proverb instead:

“Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.”

I do not have to use too much creative power to empathize with Job.  In fact it would be truly easy for me to sympathize with him at this point.  Let’s look at the scene again in Job 2.

Satan isn’t as much an accuser, in my opinion, as he is a whiner, lazy, and bully.  God is trying to take care of business and Satan comes in like a brat.  He already knows he can do whatever he wants on the earth but all he wants to do is provoke us and God.  When it isn’t easy because we and God are focused he comes crying to daddy saying, I’m bored, I can’t find anything to do.

I guess everyone else was an easy target for Satan, maybe Job was the only one he couldn’t get to so that was the very thing he was intent on having.  That is what arrogance and pride does, if someone tries to stop you for any reason you become childlike and MUST have it, do it no matter what it costs you.  How immature!

Satan underestimated Job, he sees he was wrong about his possessions being his god.  So now he has to REALLY get personal, he has to get skin close. He also knows that he has to put the pressure on.  Since he can’t “take his life”, he must attempt to make Job run FROM his life. 

Here Job is with painful boils from top to bottom.  He is sitting in the ashes of all he had amassed up to this point in life scraping his boils with a shard from one of his broken possessions when his spouse – the person that is supposed to be there putting him before “all others….ALWAYS” speaks, as if to dump acid on his open wounds. 

“Are you still holding on to your principles? Curse God and die!” 

I know Job isn’t the only one that has a spouse like that.  Job simply stated, “You’re talking like a godless fool.  We accept the good that God gives us.  Shouldn’t we also accept the bad?”  He did not enter into the coliseum with her, did he?  He spoke the truth, wisdom and discernment.  I hope that she was simply being attacked and she was not always like this.  But I have to ask myself – did Job marry a woman that was like her sons?  Is that the reason they carried on so?  It makes sense – but why would Job do that to himself?  He must have known how important it was to marry a God fearing woman so that he would have a proper “help mate”.  Maybe he was like some of us, growing in our faith and relationship with God after we were already married.  We will go deeper into this subject in the following weeks.  When I started thinking about the purpose of Kaleidoscope Butterfly our mission came to fruition in this statement:

Kaleidoscope Butterfly is about dealing with the harshness life can lie on top of us. We do not have the luxury of a fairy tale existence - some of us live a reality tale. Our Mission is to journey step by step and hand in hand through the shattered realities we are left to deal with when the myths are exposed and our vulnerability due to disillusionment are as shrapnel in our midst. Together as sojourners we will step cautiously through the battle fields with encouragement, wisdom, discernment and respect to help the survivors of the battles perfectly place the shrapnel of shattered dreams and placing them through understanding and faith, focusing with Gods eye of the kaleidoscope to see the picture as he has designed it.

We are ending today with Proverb 26:2, which is right where we will pick up tomorrow:

“Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest.”

I pray that in your vulnerability due to disillusionment you ask for wisdom believing He will not withhold any good thing from you – For His Cause is LOVE!

In Christ,

Kisses,

Candace

Job Description: Kill, Steal and Destroy

Today we are picking up in Job 1 by looking at what satan did to show God he was right about Job and the things he elaborately planned in order to provoke Job to curse God to His face.  First, I would like to start by framing our mind with some truths to enlighten our view points.  All the scriptures are from the NAS translation:
John 10:10-13

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have  it abundantly. 11 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 "He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd,  who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 "He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.

  Romans 8:20 and 21 where Paul states:

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because  of Him who subjected it, in hope  that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And  not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan  within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the  redemption of our body.  For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Luke 11:21-23:

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe.  But a stronger man than he may attack him and defeat him.  Then the stronger man will take away all the weapons in which the strong man trusted and will divide the loot.

Genesis 2:15,16 and 3: 16, 19

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.  The Lord God commanded the man.  He said “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden.  But you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it you will certainly die.
……"I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children……………
………For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

                 ______________________________________________
With this frame of thought let’s read about the next few pieces of Job’s journey as satan goes about killing, stealing and destroying what God has created.  Job 1:13-22 (GWT):

One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s home, a messenger came to Job.  He said “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, men from Sheba attacked.  They took the livestock and massacred the servants.  I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “A fire from God fell from heaven and completely burned your flocks and servants.  I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.” 
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three companies and made a raid on the camels.  They took the camels and massacred the servants.  I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine at their oldest brother’s home when suddenly a great storm swept across the desert and struck the four corners of the house.  It fell on the young people, and they died.  I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.”
Job stood up, tore his robe in grief and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground and worshiped.  He said, “Naked I came from my mother, and naked I will return.  The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away! May the name of the Lord be praised.”
Through all this Job did not sin or blame God for doing anything wrong.

There are several things that we need to be aware of here.  First satan uses the people in our lives who are easily manipulated to carry out his plans.  This does not mean that the people are evil or possessed.  It simply means they do not guard against false imaginations by casting them down and filling that space with a truth of God.  Satan spared a mouth piece in each situation who believed exactly what he wanted them to believe and ran in fear to make the report he wanted made to Job.  God did not send the natural disaster, satan did.  Satan must have loved the fact that he was being called God Almighty, he must have felt so very powerful in those moments. 
Can you imagine how his ego shriveled up and he ran when his scheming didn’t overtake Job’s love and trust in the faithfulness of our Lord God Almighty.  Even though Job did not understand that it was not God that took anything away, He only gives blessing.  Job did not allow satan to be the strong man in his land.  Job was righteous as God had stated.  Satan was proven once again to be the deceiver and God was magnified even on the worse day Job had ever imagined possible. 
Satan left a loser but that is not the end of this journey.  Satan does not give up when he sees that we do not fully comprehend the truth.  When he sees a foot hold you can sit back and collect bets, cause he will return…..as soon as we have our house swept and put in order.
Today, just read through this and think about it.  Tomorrow I want you to read it again, and write about it.  I will come back and post notes from one of our groups meeting tomorrow morning to give you some feed back.
Today I give thanks for the things we already see, I give thanks for the hopes that we have in our heart and I ask for his sight to keep your eyes set on the horizon where they will appear before you.  I lift His name on High to receive all praise honor and glory for all eternity.
In Christ, with Love,
Candace

...But Joy Comes in the Morning!

Friday we were speaking of the Gospel in group. We discussed the subjects of speaking about our problems, which is good, but not giving honor and glory to God if we stop our sentences where there should be a semicolon or a connecting adverb. There must be the speaking of our discomfort....BUT....a praising of our Lord God Almighty that He will not leave us in this situations as an orphan - unloved.

Another interesting tid-bit using our knowledge of sentence structure is that when using a conjunction the direction of the sentence does not change. Application being: We have been speaking about life as a road trip and what happens when road blocks, bridges or wrecks happen. If we understand that when we take the conjunction by way of getting out of the mishap we simply continue on the same road going deeper toward that destination. However when we take "connecting" detour we are being lead away from the problem and back onto the road in safety.

So when you write about stressful things or speak about them today, bring to remembrance who you are in God's sight: His eye is on you, He sees all the fragments as a design, He has understanding to support your lack of knowledge......But you must believe by using your actions to go as He leads.

Psalms 30:5 (GWT) His anger lasts only a moment. His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may last for the night.......but there is a song of joy in the morning! (emphasis mine)

Use the thoughts below to tie everything we have been speaking on - we will be adding to all this and closing out deeply as we review.

Kisses,
Candace

 
View Points and Perspectives

Today I was thinking about our views on things. Conversations with others; what is our view point? Planning our ambitions for the future; what is our view point? View points are actual “things” they are not simply thoughts. They move us down a physical path, interacting with physical things - people, places, and all the tangible objects within.

There are many paths to branch off from with this topic. For now let me park on this thought; If we never take the time to look from all angles, our view point is only one dimensional.

Now think of the view point we are supposed to have; an omnipresent view, through the vision of our creator. We are to look from all directions; both physically and mentally as He does. He knows the beginning and the end at the same time. We can follow that by utilizing history (the beginning) and his promise of what is to come (the end). We have our memories as well as trusted experience of many wise people.

If we take the time to walk around the object we are viewing; whether metaphorical or physical, ask for God to give us his eye sight and power to perceive, and patiently use our mind and heart to reflect we will certainly have a full view from all prospective positions.

With that in mind what do you see? How do you perceive it? Is it a real or false image? Use the powers entrusted to you as a child of God to cast down false imagination and See what is really before you as well as what is down your road. He promises to tell us EVERYTHING in advance. I trust him…..what about you?

Building the Image

• What do we see? 
• What will we/it look like? 
• What will we/it say? 
• How will we/it act out? 
• Who are we/it available for? 

These are verses that apply to us all, within them he speaks to us individually. The unique answers will come from your relationship with God through Christ.

We are made in the image of God, we are made like them.

We see that all God said is possible and He himself would manifest it.

We only see in part, but we will see all clearly. God gave us the Holy Spirit so that no thing is hidden and all things are brought into the light for us to clearly understand.

We are to only speak what the Father words, we are to speak the Truth in Love. We are to warn of harm, give wisdom to those seeking it, and to passionately cry out in grief or despair to God when they choose not to be obedient to God.

We are to follow Christ acting in accordance with his actions. Taking whatever action God tells us to for each unique situation.

We are available for Christ to live in us to reach whoever He chooses, whenever He dictates.

Each of us were made to function the same and yet so incredibly uniquely in our commonality. We must seek how we are different from everyone else. Therein is what He designed you to do…better than anyone else – while working together with a heart of gratitude for the other unique people He designed to be part of His body.

Let’s encourage each other, embrace each other, lift up each other….then we will be One Strong Body….made in His Image.

  Kisses,

Candace

 

© Candace Huffmaster 2005 All Rights Reserved

Want To; Have To; Ought To: What To Do???

Good Morning All,

Again, what a glorious day - isn't it.  Open a window, or roll one down...(or if you don't know what I'm speaking of press the window down button -haha) - now take a big wonderful WHIFF - that's what I'm talking about!  Sunshine, Whimsy, Freshness.....spring is in the air isn't it!

So with all this freshness and new life abounding - let's talk about putting some dead things underground and planting things that will show beauty in it's place. 

We are going back to Genesis for the day - maybe two who knows??  We stopped with "God's Story Being Told in Genesis 3 where God was enforcing "But, you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it you will certaily die".

God tells us that WE choose a blessing or a curse - this is what Adam did. God "had to" enforce what He put in place.  Genesis 3:22-24 (GWT) states:

Then the Lord God said, "The man has become like one of us, since he knows good and evil.  He must not reach out and take the fruit from the tree of life and eat.  Then he would live forever."  So the Lord God sent the man out of the Garden of Eden to farm the ground from which the man had been formed.  After he sent the man out, God Placed angels and a flaming sword that truned in all directions east of the Garden of Eden.  He placed them there to guard the way to the tree of life.

Let's think through the chain of events here - Adam and Eve were just livin' the dream.  THEN (da, da, da, DA) enters the slimmy serpent. " Look at the pretty piece of fruit EVE"  "Don't you want it" "Oh, you know you want it"  "You have got to taste it - it's like nothing you've ever tasted before".  The thoughts start...

We "want to" hold it, taste it,  experience it (whatever it may be).  BUT we know what we "have to" do in order to be following the rules.  Rules, guidlines, authority, regulations do you feel the heaviness and rigidity coming on when you read those words.  But they are necessary to keep everything moving and flowing without calamity.  Then comes the accountability when the two extremes battle it out and our higher self realizes what we "ought to" do.  This causes anxiety due to the pressure of our will.

At this moment we find ourselves paralyzed walking through the middle of this intersection.  Vehicles are entering from each road:  A convertible coming down  Want To Lane, a minivan on  Have To Drive and a crossover at Ought To Road -  when a SUV from "What To Do Parkway comes tearing up to the intersection .........  Are we just going to stand there and let these cars run us over or are we going to move?  What makes us choose which way to move?  Is it just fate?

How do we make a decision in such a crisis?

Let's go back to Adam and Eve.  God told Adam there were going to be elements to protect against.  He had already framed where Adams mind set should have been focused.  He had told Him this one thing NOT to do - or he would certainly die.  God told him "What To Do" there should have been no pause to begin with - BUT Adam "Wanted To Do" something different. Wanting to do something is much different than actually doing it.  Wanting is part of the process of figuring out who we are, what we look like in comparison to those rules, regulations, guidlines and authority.  That is the reason it feels heavy.  That is what the law of God was set for.  Remember, the law brings death. 

Be very aware of this: If you park on those things you are going to be road kill!  They are just road signs along the way.  So today, park yourself in your puzzle box.  Just pick up one piece and ask God to help you perfectly place it.  Ask Him to help you understand what He meant when He whispered to me:

"The Sojourn IS the answer....The Question an Endless Plight"

Today I pray for us all to "Be Still, and Know He Is God".

One last thing in reference to sweeping out debris or organizing our puzzle pieces - Think about how upset we as moms get when we really do a great spring cleaning and everyone comes in dropping stuff, tracking things in and cooking in our fresh perfect house.

Can you imagine if God allowed that to go on in Eden. We would be recreating this world with all the frustrations we go through ETERNALLY.  So let's thank Him for His patience, mercy and grace as we the houses of our mind!


With the Love of our Christ,
Candace

God Is Always Holy, Lovey and Pure.....But What Are We?

Genesis 3:1 (GWT) The snake was more clever than all the wild animals the LORD God had made. He asked the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must never eat the fruit of any tree in the garden'?"

We discussed how Adam was told to protect the garden and creatures from things.  We discussed him having a reason other than himself in order to correctly protect it.  And her right out of the shoot Adam was with Eve and when this "most clever" snake started speaking to Eve he did nothing.....NOTHING.  Why did he not stand before Eve and say "snake leave me alone - she is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh you can't distort what God said like that."  "She had not been created when God told me that we could eat from any tree in the garden except from the tree in the middle of the garden or we shall surely die"  "So GO and be silent - you are a creature and I Am man, created in God's image!" "I subdue things around here not you!".

That is my fairytale version which would go on to say .....and they lived happily ever after.  But....the facts are different, aren't they.  Knowing the words we are going to be going over I think some proverbs from the wisdom of Solomon are the perfect reflecting point today. 

As for me and my house...we will serve the Lord!
With Love Candace

1 A gentle answer turns away rage, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge,but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity.
3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere.They watch evil people and good people.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,but a deceitful tongue breaks the spirit.
5 A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline,but whoever appreciates a warning shows good sense.
6 Great treasure is in the house of a righteous person, but trouble comes along with the income of a wicked person.
7 The lips of wise people spread knowledge,but a foolish attitude does not.
8 A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to the LORD,but the prayers of decent people please him.
9 The way of wicked people is disgusting to the LORD,but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 Discipline is a terrible {burden} to anyone who leaves the {right} path.Anyone who hates a warning will die.
11 If Sheol and Abaddon lie open in front of the LORD how much more the human heart!
12 A mocker does not appreciate a warning. He will not go to wise people.
13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but with a heartache comes depression.
14 The mind of a person who has understanding searches for knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity.
15 Every day is a terrible day for a miserable person, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better to have a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and turmoil.
17 Better to have a dish of vegetables where there is love than juicy steaks where there is hate.
18 A hothead stirs up a fight, but one who holds his temper calms disputes.
19 The path of lazy people is like a thorny hedge, but the road of decent people is an {open} highway.
20 A wise son makes his father happy, but a foolish child despises its mother.
21 Stupidity is fun to the one without much sense, but a person who has understanding forges straight ahead.
22 Without advice plans go wrong,but with many advisers they succeed.
23 A person is delighted to hear an answer from his own mouth, and a timely word—oh, how good!
24 The path of life for a wise person leads upward in order to turn him away from hell below.
25 The LORD tears down the house of an arrogant person, but he protects the property of widows.
26 The thoughts of evil people are disgusting to the LORD,but pleasant words are pure to him.
27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble to his family,but whoever hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of a righteous person carefully considers how to answer,but the mouths of wicked people pour out a flood of evil things.
29 The LORD is far from wicked people,but he hears the prayers of righteous people.
30 A twinkle in the eye delights the heart.Good news refreshes the body.
31 The ear that listens to a life-giving warningwill be at home among wise people.
32 Whoever ignores discipline despises himself,but the person who listens to warning gains understanding.
33 The fear of the LORD is discipline {leading to} wisdom,and humility comes before honor.

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

Life Verses Knowledge of Good and Evil

Genesis 2:8,9 (The Message)


Then GOD planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. GOD made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.

When we really sit with each verse of Genesis we can see how thoughtful God is in every way. Even when creating the earth and it's environment he left nothing to chance. Until He created man to care for things he did not create the garden. After He created the garden of His delight, He then placed Man in it. Notice that this was not man's choice. Just as God placed the stars in the sky to be signs and wonders, markers for time and seasons, He also put Man in his destined environment.

With that being said, God still allowed man the choice of living within His place of delight or in control and left to his own devices. Man chose Knowledge of Good and Evil over Abundance Life.
We will discuss this in more detail later on in Genesis.

Today let's praise God for His pupose and plan, for our salvation and deliverance through Christ. Let's share of our hope from disaster and how there is rest due to His lamb. Let's shout with joy that He is risen, His life is liberating to the lame, His breath flows from our praises and enlivens the dryest of things.
I pray that this permiates your soul and that your spirit prospers more today....share of yourself with others. You are His delight and I am delighted to know you,

Candace

God Created Order; We Created The Mess

When thinking about what we have learned while studying Genesis, we must clarify which mess we are embracing.  I know that that in our lack of maturity in Christ we can become okay with  with the fact that we are sinners and allow comfort to take precedence over the renewing of our character so that we can be transformed into His image.  
 

God did not desire us to go through this process of refinement.  But I am so thankful that He knew from the beginning what allowing free will would take us to so that He planned the way out for us.....if we will allow it, and embrace His way to Zoe Life.  This is "the way". This is our journey. And God said it is a good journey with all that is good waiting for us along this path.  Believe in Him deeply, honestly, passionately. 

I pray that we will run into His embrace freely so that we might have rest for souls.

With the Love of our Christ,

Candace

Embracing the Mess

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

Monday, August 09 2010

"Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest." Proverbs 14:4

My wife and I run together through a new home subdivision. Often we see the street filled with red clay from the land as bulldozers clear it to lay a foundation. The job site is littered with lumber, all sorts of trash from workers, and is generally a mess. The house looks ugly; it has all its insides exposed as it is being pieced together, yet this process is necessary to get to the finished product. When completed, the home is beautiful. The landscaping looks like it came out of a home-design magazine. Everything is clean and perfect in order for the new homeowner to move in.

Our walk with God is much the same process. Often we must go through a messy period of our lives in which all aspects of it are in disarray. It is in these times that God builds a new structure. He might remove some structural timbers in our lives and replace them with new ones. He might even add on another room. And unless this process takes place, we will never see the end product. The goal is more Christlikeness. In order to achieve this in us, He requires a period of removing all that is not of Him. It can be a painful process.

It would be impossible to keep oxen in a barn without having to clean up the mess from time to time. It just comes with the territory, but the result of the oxen is an abundant harvest. God may be allowing a mess in order to ensure a fruitful harvest in your life. Learn from Him so that you might experience the fulfillment of His purposes for you in these times.

The Close of Chapter One - God's Epic

Genesis 1:29-31 (NAS) Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which hass fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves  on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

As we close out the first chapter of God’s Epic to us can see how much love and care He took to safe guard all things from any harm. In God’s divine order he had nothing taking life blood from any living thing. He said this was good. We know this order changed after the fall of Adam and Eve.

I am excited to make it into chapter 2 and look into all the small details of God’s story that I might have overlooked over the years. Here is a brief compilation of chapter one.

Day one – earth, deep, spirit moving over surface – God called light to be there and the light was good to separate light from dark

Day two- God put the expanse in the middle of the waters to separate what was above and below. He called it heaven.

Day three -He gathered the water below the heavens so the dry land would appear. He called this earth and the gathering of waters He called the seas.

Day five- the water had living creatures, the sky had birds flying in the expanse of the heavens each like each other in separate spaces.

Day six - the earth brought forth living creatures after their kind: cattle, creeping things, and beasts. Then God made man in His image and likeness. Man is to rule over the fish, birds and every living thing that moves on the earth. He gave us every plant yielding see on the surface of the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding see for our food. To beast of the earth, birds of the sky and every thing that moves on earth which has life, He gave every green plant for food.

I pray that each of us think about God's divine order of things, look around us and marvel. There is nothing that He has not put thought, time and effort into creating.  He asks us not to lean on our own understanding, so today ask Him why He choose these ways and said it is good.  Ask Him to tell us anything that has been hidden - Through Christ, He gave us His spirit for this very reason.  He made us in His image to understand who He is, how He is and then Be "like" Him here on earth......as it is in Heaven.

With the Love of our Christ to each of you,
Candace

Back On Track

As I am thinking about today’s devotion, I am also thinking about how quickly the summer break with our children and grandchildren is coming to a close. With this in mind I am making sure to keep our daily devotions simplistic. Hopefully they will still challenge you to engage to the fullest in seeking Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

My prayers for us all is to cherish our children and those around us we are leading, mentoring to speak deliberately in all things, to desire to Be the image God created us to be and speak with the truth in love to all around us ….all the time.

Now that would Be a beautiful creation indeed, wouldn’t it?
My love to each of you, in Christ,
Candace

27 So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. 28 God blessed them and said, "Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth."

We know from all our previous studies thus far that God had an image in His mind AS He was creating each element of existence: heavens, earth, gravity, air, water, plants, animals and us. We also know that He gave His approval to each entity as being what He imagined it would be.

So far in our studies we see that out of all creation so far only the animals and mankind were blessed; which reminded me of the scripture in Ephesians 1:3. So, Today I am leaving off with these final scriptures from Paul.

Think of these things today, because they are holy…lovely AND pure.
Be Holy because He is Holy and you were made to Be.

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer. 4 Before the creation of the world, he chose us through Christ to be holy and perfect in his presence. 5 Because of his love he had already decided to adopt us through Jesus Christ. He freely chose to do this 6 so that the kindness F3 he had given us in his dear Son would be praised and given glory. 7 Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness. 8 He poured out his kindness by giving us every kind of wisdom and insight 9 when he revealed the mystery of his plan to us. He had decided to do this through Christ. 10 He planned to bring all of history to its goal in Christ. Then Christ would be the head of everything in heaven and on earth. 11 God also decided ahead of time to choose us through Christ according to his plan, which makes everything work the way he intends. 12 He planned all of this so that we who had already focused our hope on Christ would praise him and give him glory. 13 You heard and believed the message of truth, the Good News that he has saved you. In him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit whom he promised. 14 This Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive our inheritance. We have this guarantee until we are set free to belong to him. God receives praise and glory for this.

Image Alone Never Becomes Likeness

Genesis 1:26 (NAS)
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

What God Made when He made man did not stop with the image. An image of something is a mere semblance it is empty except on the surface. This is what we are in our soul without the holy spirit. This is where we were when we departed from His presence. But thank God they did not stop there. He made us in their image but according to their His likeness which goes deeper than the surface it has to do with the being the same “kind”.

Let me explain it with the Law and Christ. We know that the Law is the “how to act” however on our own we cannot accomplish it for ever. Christ came to “fulfill” the law. Christ came so that the Image could be liberated by the Holy Spirit. Christ was the word of God AND the Spirit of God. He was the culmination of the two here among us. When He died He was released from the form that He took on. He was able to return to His home with our Father; at which point we were send our Helper – the Holy Spirit.

The final point that I want to clarify today is that God made us in their image according to their likeness to rule over the fish, birds, cattle and every “creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” No where did God tell us to “rule or Lord” over our fellow man….NO WHERE!

So today I am leaving us with the opening chapter of my favorite book of the bible Hebrews, remembering that God in all ways is faithful and true. I pray that you hear what the power of His word is relating and believe…then follow. His Ways are so good, and you will find rest for your soul (then your image will have his characteristics =D)

With Love,
Candace

Hebrews Chapter 1 (GWT)


In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets. In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. God made his Son responsible for everything. His Son is the one through whom God made the universe. His Son is the reflection of God’s glory and the “exact likeness” of God’s being. He holds everything together through his powerful words. After he had cleansed people from their sins, he received the highest position, the one next to the Father in heaven.


The Son has become greater than the angels since he had been given a name that is superior to theirs. God never said to any of his angels, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.” And God never said to any of his angels. “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.” When God was about to send his firstborn Son into the world, he said, “All of God’s angels must worship him.” God said about the angels, “He makes his messengers winds. He makes his servants flames of fire.” But God said about his Son, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter in your kingdom is a scepter for justice. You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong. That is why God, your God, anointed you, rather than your companions, with the oil of joy.”


God also said, “Lord, in the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth, with your own hands you made the heavens. They will come to an end, but you will live forever. They will all wear out like clothes. They will be taken off like a coat. You will change them like clothes. But you remain the same and your life will never end. But God never said to any of the angels. “Sit in the highest position in heaven until I make your enemies your footstool.”


What are all the angels? They are spirits sent to serve those who are going to receive salvation.

As I am typing this I realized something. Lucifer was an angel. He fell in love with His image. He did not desire to serve – he desires to be what He can never be. So He has come to an end, Christ made him his footstool. Remember all those angels denied their position….they are rebels misaligned with the cause….the cause is LOVE.

Here is a poem if you would like to think a bit more deeply on all this.

Imagine in His Image

Oh Father, as my body lies before you humbly, my spirit stands tall,
Facing your glory, reaching for your outstretched arms,
My soul is now free, no longer in bondage to my flesh,
I am but the wind, spreading your compassion and tenderness.
The gentle breeze that tousles the hair and kisses the cheek,
Spreading new breath of life, wooing us into your presence to partake of your grace,
No longer do we need this world... this world is in need of us.
Pour out your essence as a gentle rain, wash away the dirt of our lives.
Free our souls so that we may fly home on your wings,
Though our paths may be dark we need only your light,
We need not know the road for you are our path.
Release my mind, oh my flesh, your thoughts are in vain.
My father created you and needs this space,
Be the vessel you were created to be, holy, lovely and pure,
Capture the light and radiate His glory,
My face will shine, my breath will teach,
And together we will come home.
To our father be the glory and us the image... as He created us to be.

By Candace Huffmaster © final draft 2008

God Notices....and He Let's Us Know.

Good Morning My Friends:


Today we are looking at verses 24 and 25 of Genesis 1. They are really clear and straight forward. God Let what He had desired be And IT Was SO - just as He had done with the formation of what came before this. He then noticed all this; He looked upon it. I imagine Him with such a joyous heart filled smile across His face. We do not know if it was in His heart He spoke or if it was audible. But we do know that He took notice and I am sure pause to express that it was all good.

24Then God said, “Let the earth produce every type of living creature: every type of domestic animal, crawling animal, and wild animal.” And so it was. 25God made every type of wild animal, every type of domestic animal, and every type of creature that crawls on the ground. God saw that they were good.

Preparing to move forward with the creation of Man tomorrow, I wanted to set the stage with Roman 1 and a devotion from Oswald Chambers. I pray that your hearts be enlightened today as you look around you at all live and remember that “In the beginning, God said that it was Good and He was pleased.” Show Mercy because you have been given much…..before you ever loved Him…He loved you and said you were a good thing.

With a Holy Kiss – Embrace this Day - As Mason always says yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift that is why it is called “The Present”. It is not his original statement, however it is a fabulous one and I thank him (and Him) always for sharing with me.

Candace


Romans 1: From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and appointed to spread the Good News of God. 2 (God had already promised this Good News through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 3 This Good News is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. F1 In his human nature he was a descendant of David. 4 In his spiritual, holy nature he was declared the Son of God. This was shown in a powerful way when he came back to life. 5 Through him we have received God’s kindness F2 and the privilege of being apostles who bring people from every nation to the obedience that is associated with faith. This is for the honor of his name. 6 You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.)


7 To everyone in Rome whom God loves and has called to be his holy people. Good will F3 and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours! First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for every one of you because the news of your faith is spreading throughout the whole world. 9 I serve God by spreading the Good News about his Son. God is my witness that I always mention you 10 every time I pray. I ask that somehow God will now at last make it possible for me to visit you. 11 I long to see you to share a spiritual blessing with you so that you will be strengthened. 12 What I mean is that we may be encouraged by each other’s faith.


13 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to visit you. However, until now I have been kept from doing so. What I want is to enjoy some of the results of working among you as I have also enjoyed the results of working among the rest of the nations. 14 I have an obligation to those who are civilized and those who aren’t, to those who are wise and those who aren’t. 15 That’s why I’m eager to tell you who live in Rome the Good News also.


16 I’m not ashamed of the Good News. It is God’s power to save everyone who believes, Jews first and Greeks as well. 17 God’s approval is revealed in this Good News. This approval begins and ends with faith as Scripture says, “The person who has God’s approval will live by faith.”

By Oswald Chamber – My Utmost For His Highest

am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians . . . —Romans 1:14

Paul was overwhelmed with the sense of his indebtedness to Jesus Christ, and he spent his life to express it. The greatest inspiration in Paul’s life was his view of Jesus Christ as his spiritual creditor. Do I feel that same sense of indebtedness to Christ regarding every unsaved soul? As a saint, my life’s spiritual honor and duty is to fulfill my debt to Christ in relation to these lost souls. Every tiny bit of my life that has value I owe to the redemption of Jesus Christ. Am I doing anything to enable Him to bring His redemption into evident reality in the lives of others? I will only be able to do this as the Spirit of God works into me this sense of indebtedness.

I am not a superior person among other people— I am a bondservant of the Lord Jesus. Paul said, “. . . you are not your own . . . you were bought at a price . . .” ( 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ). Paul sold himself to Jesus Christ and he said, in effect, “I am a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the gospel of Jesus; I am free only that I may be an absolute bondservant of His.” That is the characteristic of a Christian’s life once this level of spiritual honor and duty becomes real. Quit praying about yourself and spend your life for the sake of others as the bondservant of Jesus. That is the true meaning of being broken bread and poured-out wine in real life.

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

The Original "Big Fish" Tale

It is with  great joy that I open this to you today!  Although I am sorry for not having the ability to stay on course with our study of Genesis, today I truly believe I can tout that the computer is fixed!!!   What a roller coaster.  So with gusto let's dig back in . 

Genesis 1:21 (NAS)
And God created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:22 (NAS)
And God blessed them saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."

Genesis 1:23 (NAS)
And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

To understand what God was "preparing in advance" or setting in motion on this fifth day He created to support all times, we have to take a microscope to this day.  For instance what is the reality of these great "sea monsters".  To know that we would have to know the Hebrew word in which we derive it from.  Tanniyn or Tanniym is a huge fish, a marine or land monster; a dragon, a sea serpent; a water animal, a shark or a crocodile as it pertains to these scriptures.  There are other definitions but today we are only looking at these.  The others are more metaphoric in nature.  Let's look at how God has utilized those through out His creations history.

Job is considered to be among the first books ever to be written.  He made the first reference to them in a conversation he was having with God when he said, " Am I the sea or a sea monster that you have set a guard over me?"

Isaiah praised God saying "O Lord, you are my God.  I will highly honor you; I will praise your name.  You have done miraculous things.  You have been completely reliable in carrying out your plans from long ago.  He then speaks about the future for God's people saying, "On this mountain the Lord of Armies will prepare for all people a feast with the best foods, a banquet with aged wines, with the best foods and the finest wines.  On this mountain he will remove the veil of grief covering all people and the mask covering all nations.  he will swallow up death forever.  The Almighty Lord will wipe away tears from every face, and he will remove the disgrace of his people from the whole earth.  The Lord has spoken.  On that day, his people, will say "This is our God; we have waited for him, and now he will save us. - Let us rejoice and  be glad because he will save us."  A bit further down He is talking about "that day" when we are saved.  Listen to what he shares. " on that day the Lord will use his fierce and powerful sword to punish Leviathan - that slippery snake, Leviathan, that twisting snake.  He will kill that monster which lives in the sea.  On that day sing about a delightful vineyard.  I, the Lord, will watch over it.  I water it continually.  I watch over it day and night so that no one will harm it.  I am no longer angry.  If only thorn's and briar's would confront me! I would fight them in battle and set all of them on fire.  or else let them come to me for protection.  Let them make peace with me.  Yes, let them make peace with me.

Now let's move on to Jeremiah, his last prophecy was about how King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had devoured the Israelites.  He had thrown them into confusion, turned them into empty jars, swallowed them like a monster filling his belly with their delicacies; then he spit them out.  They were begging for violence to be done to Babylon, for its people to be held responsible for their deaths.  Further down God told his people to leave - to run for their lives.  Not from the evil of the Babylonians but from the burning anger of the Lord.  He did not want them to be around when His vengeance was brought to fruition.  This is exactly what He was speaking of through Isaiah as He said "if only they would confront me I would fight them in battle and set all of them on fires"...or else let them come to me for protections - Let them make peace with me.

The one reference I would have thought would be obvious was Jonah and the "whale".  However, there seems to be some ambiguity about the correct translation of this "fish - really big fish".  I will look those up and get back to you tomorrow on that one. 

As for today - we must realize that God's plans are not only perfect they are perfectly ordered.  We simply have free will as to "if we will face Him".  The ridiculous part is when we choose to not face Him, we must turn our back on Him.  That is not a pretty sight when I picture it.  Think about how you feel when some one repeatedly ignores your efforts to have relationship with them.  We might get hurt for awhile, but then we get heated about it.  This is because we are made in the Image of God.....and that's what He does. 

Just remember in your anger - Do not sin!  Vengeance is Mine says the Lord.
With the Love of Christ,
Candace

"Above All Else"

Today all we are going to look at is the Hebrew definitions of our translated words within Genesis 1:20. We will need to understand these as we move forward with our study. I utilize Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance for the Hebrew definitions.

Genesis 1:20 (NAS)



Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens."

1. Waters is Mahyim same as waters the first of Genesis - water, waters, water of the feet, urine. Of Danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment.

2. teem is Sharats – meaning (Qal) to teem, swarm, multiply. To swarm.

3. Swarms is a derivative of sharats – it is Sherets meaning teeming or swarming things, creepers, swarmers - of insects, animals, small reptiles, quadrupeds.

4. Living is Chay meaning living, alive (green/ of vegetation, flowing fresh / of water, lively, active (of man) reviving (of springtime) it means relatives. Life (abstract emphatic sustenance, maintenance. Living thing, animal: life, appetite, revival, renewal. It means community.

5. Creatures is Nephesh meaning soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion. That which breathes – the breathing substance or being. The inner being of man or the soul. The living being as in the life in the blood. The activity of the mind – seat of emotions, passions and activity of the will, activity of the character are all seated here. Dubious.

6. birds is owph meaning flying creatures, fowl, winged insects, birds

7. Fly is uwph meaning to fly, hover, fly about or fly away. It also means to cause to fly or light upon and it can mean to fly to and fro. It has a (Qal) meaning: to cover, be dark, gloom.

8. Above is al this preposition has quiet an amazing depth for such a small word: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against. It means because of, for the sake of, with, for, in spit of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of. It show above, beyond and over in excess (example in abundance to the full till it overflows). It shows pre-eminence of elevation (example not to lean on our own understanding – his thoughts are “higher than our thoughts). It also show multiplicity of addition – in addition to, together with, upon, unto (examples of where God adds to our ordinary to complete us) which is a deeper meaning of being over as in an extension or suspension. It means by adjoining, around next to in proximity (of contiguity) It also is a verb of motion: down upon, on, from, up to, towards, against. (examples God is for us not against us. Who ever is not against God is for Him). It is also a conjunction (conjunction junction what’s your function) to (as a dative?) because, notwithstanding and although.

9. Earth is same as earlier verses (erets) look back for definition.
10. open is paniym meaning face or faces, presence, person, face of: seraphim or cherubim, animals, surface of ground. It is also used as an adverb to describe location examples are before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime as a preposition as well examples of each are: as Christ goes before all thing, God is omnipresent; we are to go before Christ, others before us. As a preposition it means in front, in the face of the enemy, Christ was with God from the beginning. Before there was, there was God.
11. Expanse is raqiya same definition as firmament – look back in notes.
12. Heavens is shawmayhim – interesting that it has the Hebrew work mayhim (we derive waters) as part of it. It is derived from an unused Hebrew word eym meaning lofty. Defined it means: heaven, heavens, sky or visible heavens, as an abode of the stars, as the visible universe or atmosphere, the abode of God.

Read the poem I sent last night. Think about these definitions as you are doing so. Take some time to write about what you are thinking for us to share together Friday.

I leave of with these two verse to ponder:

Proverbs 20:5 A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out.


Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man.


Ecclesiasties 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.


1 Peter 1:12 God revealed to the prophets that the things they had spoken were not for their own benefit but for yours. What the prophets had spoken, the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven, has now made known to you by those who spread the Good News among you. These are things that even the angels want to look into.

I pray that we understand this day what God means when He promised us that the spirit searches all things even the depths of God. I pray that we: look toward the heavens each moment giving praise, that we keep our face set as flint and our eyes set on the things of His Kingdom, that we think on things that are holy, lovely and pure with the a devotion toward all that He is. Remember that the Holy Spirit has made all things known to you so guard your heart above all else, because out of it flows the issues of life. Be well today, because you can be!

With Love to you all...in Christ;
Candace

Trusting God's Story as Truth

We know from yesterday’s verses that God put the greater and lesser lights in the governing positions. He stated that this was Good.


Let’s break down some of the verses from yesterday and relate them to other scriptures in context in order to go a bit deeper with understanding God’s way of comprehending, discerning and living out or journey’s.

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Yesterday in our group meeting we were speaking about spiritual warfare, speaking God’s truth into our battles and waiting on God to show us the proper plan/ way out.

I would like to support this with Ephesians Chapter 6:9-20 (using GWT).

Masters, treat your slaves with respect. Don’t threaten a slave. You know that there is one master in heaven who has authority over both of you, and he doesn’t play favorites.

Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies. This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground. So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate. Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace. In addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Also take salvation as your helmet and the word of God as the sword that the Spirit supplies. Pray in the Spirit in every situation. Use every kind of prayer and request there is. For the same reason be alert. Use every kind of effort and make every kind of request for all of God’s people. Also pray that God will give me the right words to say. Then I will speak boldly when I reveal the mystery of the Good News. Because I have already been doing this as Christ’s representative, I am in prison. So pray that I speak about this Good News as boldly as I have to.

In Matthew 4 we see Christ utilizing all these principles. Christ went before us to show us: what to believe, how it will help us, and allow us to have the faith to persevere.

Verses 1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, “MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU'; and ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'" Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'" Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

God tells us that we have cloud of witnesses around us. He tells us He will never leave us alone or abandon us. He also tells us that the angels harken after His word. So we should believe that we stand against or up to the evil in our midst as Christ did speaking the truth appropriately. The governing power of this world is darkness, how deep that darkness is I have no idea….and do not care to find out. What I do know is that he comes to tempt us to “choose in free will” to give up, cave in and quit – “lay down like a doormat and let things trample over us- without speaking the power of the Lord God Almighty’s truth. He tries to make us tire out before we pick up our armor. Don’t do it. As Ephesians 6:13 states:

For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground.”

Day Four - The Story Being Told

We paused our study on Genesis last week with verse 16, where God made the 2 great lights.  The greater was to govern day and the lesser was to govern night.  He also made the stars.  We are moving forward with the grand finish of the Fourth Day in God's Story.  Over the weekend we will be studying these verses and drawing some parallels to understand God's love, mindset and fulfillment.

Genesis 1:17-19  God  placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.


God told us in these verses that HE set up a hierarchy of governing things and the greatest light was Good.  He did not say that the lesser light had no governing power.  Let's compare this with Romans 18 and ponder what this is speaking of.  We will discuss this more over the next few days.

Be Subject to Government


Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day,not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.


I pray that each of us willingly give ourselves to the accountability of God's love.  There is no fear in Love, we are perfected by love not fear.  Fear comes to kill, steal and destroy, but perfect love cast out all fear.  Walk into Christ, who is in God's presence and allow His glory to be the greater life upon you and in the presence of the lesser light.

With the Love and Heart of Christ - Let it be so.
Candace

This is a Romans 8 Kind of Week ..and it isn't only Wednesday!

It is weeks like this when I see God's sense of humor and hear him encouraging me to take a deep breath, and remember...He knows what is going on in / around us.

So at this moment when my computer "seems" to be crashing, relationships "appear" to be disconnected, and my flesh "feels" like it is flailing - I pull close to God and curl up with Romans 8 and take a REALLY deep breath.  I will not grab the carrots that my mind is enticing me with.  I will believe God and persevere.

In line with what God has told us in the beginning of His Story to us, I ask you to meditate on the scriptures below today.   I thank God that all is well.  I thank him with a humble heart for the mercy and grace to get to the other side of Today with wholeness, peace ...and yes, even joy!

My prayers are with you all,
In love,
Candace

Romans 8:20- (NAS)
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

What Do You See?

God did everything in order…..for us to SEE Genesis 1:1 from the Message translation states it like this:

1First this: God created the Heavens and Earth--all you see, all you don't see. 2Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.

As I was reading our verses from Matthew and Genesis yesterday, these words jumped out at me and they will see.

When do you think God wants us to see? Do you think He wants it to be “after” we go through a life of tribulation? Do you think He would have started His story out telling us how He defined everything in such an orderly fashion and gave us the ability to see it all from the beginning of creation if He wanted us to NOT see till it was too late?

His story is a Love Story. It is all of His wisdom, warnings and woes to blind, rebellious people. However, He seasoned it with those of us that have persevered through seeing His reality instead of the distortion of darkness around us. In 2 Corinthians 5 God tells us:

For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--

for we walk by faith, not by sight--

we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

So I ask you today, “Knowing all these words of God, do you believe them”? “If you believe them, do you trust them to be true?” “If you trust them to be true are you waiting for what God is leading you toward…showing you?” He promised that if we seek Him with all our heart, mind and soul. We will find Him. In Habakkuk 2:4 He states:

"Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith.

In Hebrews 10: 37-38 God states:

FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.  BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

For His Glory and Name Sake in Christ,

Candace

Today, I pray verse 39 of Hebrews over us to cover us and encourage us.”But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” I ask you to believe what we are studying, to have faith in our Holy God, and to seek His way out of whatever tribulation is battling within your lives.