Segment 2: The Wind and a Stone

As we read The Wind and a Stone, we found more than a good read with fascinatingly read characters.  We found our own characters and recognized some of our very real fears.  Today we are going to read another snippet from Erwin McManus’ book Stand Against the Wind while we again merge with the Old Testament and New Testament scriptures.  When we speak of the ebb and flow of God’s word this is what we mean.  We must dive deeply into these holy waters, reaching through to the other side.  We must join our hands with the others and now merge in with our very own life.

It always amazes me when God shares something so many years prior, which we store away, nourish and wait with excitement for Him to bring to a full harvest.  Before I ever began women’s group studies, He told me we would be doing this.  I thought it was just a poem:

 

Walk across the scripture

Reach his hand on the other side

Journey with him and the others

Merge in now with your life

Repair your broken mirror

To reflect his perfect peace

Bring transparency and your color

Into the picture of eternity

 

God created a space, we’ve discussed, where He could enter with power.  He could be born as man, our Christ and suffer just one time for all suffering.  What He did was secure Zoe life for us, but we must recognize how we “Give up the Ghost” as the old saying goes.  But it is true:

When we sin we shatter our oneness with God, which is Shalom.  While we are sitting amidst our broken pieces too exhausted to move is actually the perfect time to pick up the one thing in our life that cannot be shattered… God’s word.  Don’t worry about the shattered pieces around you, just sit with Him and read. Let Him take you on a journey, His journey, Your journey, Our journey… it’s all the same.

Like I always say…..we’re nothing but a bunch of characters anyway.  So, lighten up, God’s got your storyline covered – literally! You are bound between the pages of His cover front to back your story has been entwined within His.

For the next few months we will be on a sojourn in search of our characters lines; because There IS a Story Being Told.  Won’t you join us?

Happy Trails to YOU……

Kisses,

Candace

Read Psalms 31; Luke 24; Matthew 28

We will be starting a new study of Peter in group by Stephen J Binz

 Update 2012 ©Candace Huffmaster 2006, All Copy Rights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly Inc ®

It is True You Have Zeal......

Gosh, I have missed you guys!!  It is so awesome to be back in MY saddle.  There is a very apropos movie quote for how I feel: 

You can't ride two horses with one "bum", sugarbean!  from Sweet Home Alabama

Yesterday, when writing to you all, I was interrupted by “my agenda”.  Usually, I would bury those posts and pick up with the fresh material from this day.  However,   this is not how I will be doing things from now on  :0.  The truth is, I love order, but I live amidst chaos.  We all do, and it is my hope to stretch myself to become order in this chaotic world system!  Would you like to join me today? J

Here is the bite from October 15^th:

God has been teaching me “how” to see.  We, or at least I, cannot even handle that on my own…..At least not in the highest, best sight.  Without Him, I only have my own abilities and possibly a few good meaning friends. 

In group, we have been revisiting The Wind and a Stone.  Each time I teach this, I see something about God’s will in regard to myself a bit more clearly.  For instance, these verses sprang to mind:

Romans 10:2, 3, 14, 15

For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.

Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?

And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

God desires for us to see clearly.  This is the entire reason He gave us His written word.  He promises to protect truth eternally.  We told us to see things through believing what He says: My children will live by faith, not by sight.

Yet we have eyes to see things don’t we?  I have thought this through many times.  We use it in group often. Let’s revisit some thoughts:

We see with our mind, really, like an artist which holds up their hands to peer through.  They desire to isolate just one segment, having a focus which will fit upon their canvas.  In life, we use memories, thoughts and things we see as the hands blocking out all other images playing into our vision.  Each snap shot, our vision takes, is placed within the frame of these things.  We then attempt to construct a work of art / our future based on what we just perceived

.

All this was the perfect intro in to today’s thoughts, which will now be tomorrows……….

Today, don’t over think what you are seeing.  By faith simply believe a promise which relates to an area of mystery shrouding your clear view.

With a heart desiring your encouragement, in love,

Kisses,

Candace

 

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc ®

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copy Rights Reserved

Provision of Stones

We have been speaking in group about God calling David and the battlefields he ran onto.  God also called Peter to a battle ground.  He forged his character and we saw a great transformation through many events he passed through.  We left off with questions for you to write about as you continue journaling your own stories:

1. Can you see where God has called you to a battle line?
2. How has YOUR character been forged now or in the past?
3. Did you sink like Peter or trust as David?

Be sure to stay in the liberty of Christ, do not float down stream into condemnation as you think back.  Remembering this might help: Peter had no experience with walking on water, he simply had faith that it could be done because he was watching Christ.  David trusted God because he had experiential knowledge and had proven to himself that God would indeed save him.  Don't you think that Peter's big faith in Christs faithfulness to help him walk on water was as extraordinary feat as David using his skills and trusting God to hit the giant target?

Sometimes when things happen in life and we start floating down stream instead of walking in faith.  Our view of Christ starts to fade and all the distortion around us creeps on close.  We become frustrated, as the space closes in, the oxygen starts to die down, we get a bit sweaty and clammy.......then angry.

When we get angry it stems from fear.  When Peter feared, he sank.  Christ asked him this question:  Why did you doubt?  This must mean that fear comes from doubting God's faithfulness or not knowing his promise to rescue us in a given situation.  Sin moves us outside of God's presence and we are exposed to harmful elements.  You will notice it is very easy for you to get disturbed and angry when this happens.  When Peter became afraid, he simply called out to Christ.  Christ reached over and took his hand and gently spoke convicting words which could teach Peter to maintain his faith when being thrashed by an onslaught of evil.  

David had won many of the battles with fear.  God had trained him to be a warrior, to run to His battle lines and fight for the Lord.  David chose a stone to sling at Goliath.  There were many other choices made available - But the stone was Davids choice. 

There are times in life when we will have to walk out in faith on turbulent waters.  There will be other times when we will be asked to enter the battle field and run to the front lines and fight His fight.  How will you fare?  What weapon will you select, which fight will you enter?  Will you call out to Christ of sink like a perfectly weighted stone?

You intent to do God's will can only be fulfilled by the power of the holy spirit.  In and of ourselves we are no better than an ordinary mob mentality.  So we must pause to ask ourselves:   Are we seeking our own vengeance….or for God to do extraordinary things through His ordinary people and bring justice to all?

For Example:  

John 8:3-11

And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery and having set her in the midst they said to Him, Teacher this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women, what then do You say?  And they were saying this testing Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him.  But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.  But when they persisted in asking him.  He straightened up, and said to them.  He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.  And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and he was left alone, and the woman, where she was in the midst.  And straightening up Jesus said to her.  Woman where are they? Did no one condemn you?  And she said No one Lord, and Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you, go your way.  From now on sin no more.

What I found interesting is what “testing” in the Greek language actually means.  It means -attempting to entangle a person in sin.  It’s what Satan does to try and present someone as being unapproved. 

If you will notice, the Pharisees were taunting Christ to defend the law of Moses, but Christ stooped down and with His finger, wrote on the ground.

 

Now stick close with me for another point before concluding: The word “wrote” in Greek means to ponder.   It also has another meaning – appealing to the indisputable and legal authority of the passage quoted. 

This  made me ponder….    “What if Christ was writing a passage in the dirt that He was pondering?”

The scribes and Pharisees persisted, we're told; then Christ straightened up and stated – “He who is without sin throw the first stone”. In this verse he is not speaking of general sin.  This Greek word is “sin specific” it meant that these leaders were adulterers themselves.  Notice they did not bring the man before Christ, only the woman.  Weren’t they both adulterers?

Now look at this scripture from Romans 2  which will solidify this meaning:

¹Therefore you have^(A) no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For^(B) in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

So, may I ask......

What are we holding in our hand?

Peace or stones?

Are we stoning people?

Or are we kneeling down and allowing God to deal with the situation justly?

John 8

When we rise, are we casting stones or speaking God’s word?

Points to ponder on how to hand similar situations :

 Knowing we are ordinary people,  we have to have support and a new understanding to truly change how we handle things. 

·        Wisdom of the Lord for discernment

·        Prayerful consideration of all points

·        Use the examining table concept 

·        Seek peace above all else

·        Do not let the sun go down on your anger

Reflect on all this adding in "The Wind and A Stone" the previous weeks information.  We will not be meeting Friday, which gives each of you an extra week to write for group.

Liberty, Free Will.....Fear

Are You That Confident

Ordinary or Extra Ordinary

 

 

 

I will miss each of you, please feel free to e-mail me any of your stories to add to the one we are writing anytime.

Much love,

Candace

^{©Candace Huffmaster, 2012  All Copy Rights Reserved}

^{Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™}

Ever Hooked Yourself When Fishing?

However, I'm afraid that as the snake deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3

I must apologize for the long pause.  But I guess it took 7 days for me to grasp the depths of the topic we are Honestly venturing into.  We last discussed how our soul lures us away and yet we must not allow ourselves the luxury of choosing to be naïve.  Knowing that guilt and condemnation have no place in our relationship with God through Christ, we have the advantage of holding our soul accountable while casting down it’s false, vain perceptions.  There is such a vast array of wisdom written for us on the topic of self deception, vain wisdom, and lethargic learning.  It is my opinion that learning through others flailing, falling or flying is what makes it real – not theology.  Not that we don’t need both; otherwise we would simply be foolish leaders luring others into harm’s way. 

Today we are going to glean understanding as we compare some pieces of Peter and Isaiah’s journeys.  Both of these men LOVE, LOVE, LOVED God – but Peter had the wonderful experience of actually being able to walk alongside Jesus Christ.  WOW….my heart leaps when I ponder what those experiences must have been like; but also, how devastating it must have been to Peter when he followed the lures his mind casted at times.  Talk about an abrupt HIGH / low experience!

To review:  Perceive means to be aware or discern while Deceived means cheated or mislead.  The common denominators are these two are: information, decision and right of free will.  Holding this variable equation together is our one and only ultimate constant; God’s purpose and personality are at the helm of the universe, not randomness. 

We stopped last with Peter wanting to go “right now” with Christ.  Can you imagine the fear that must have been luring him as he thought about Christ leaving him to go it alone?  Not to mention that Christ validates Peters fear by telling him (my paraphrase) Hey Pete, I know you THINK you would do anything, but I will let you SEE how unrealistic you are about the depth of your devotion to me.  I won’t even be far out of your view and you won’t be able to stand the pressure, much less let me REALLY be gone.  I thank God that we have these true tales to walk through, or else I would feel like an utter failure at times.

Now let’s look at a few moments in the life of Isaiah: chapter 6: 8-13  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send and whom will go for Us?  Then I said “HERE I AM…send ME!”  and He said Go and tell this people: keep listening but do not perceive, keep on looking, but do not understand, render the hearts of this people insensitive their ears dull and their eyes dim; lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and return and be healed.  Then I said “How Long?” and HE answered.

Do you hear any insecurity or second guessing in Isaiah?  I heard passion for supporting THEIR cause and a perseverance to WAIT on God’s direction. 

Today I want you to think about the contrast of each individual’s purpose, personality and continence. Consider these thoughts:

Could it have been a hindrance to Peter’s faith maturing because Christ was in His presence?

Could Isaiah have been at an advantage to step up because he had not been walking alongside Christ therefore alleviating self defeating thoughts of comparison?

It is my prayer for us today that in all ways we receive the good which God extends to each of us as we strive to bring honor to Him, glory to His son and unite in His spirit to testify the might of His ways.  I pray we are faithful and that we will not shrink back, but lean in and be girded up to be one with His patience.  May we be strength to those whose faith is not as strong, may we lay ourselves aside and be concerned with our neighbors and the good things that will build their faith.  May we be like Christ who did not think only of himself but allowed the insults of others to fall into the hands of God’s mercy and grace.  May we learn from those that witnessed before us so that we could perceive their endurance and find encouragement to continue to stand.  And lastly, I pray that it is God’s good pleasure to give us all this same endurance and encouragement so that we may live in harmony with each other as we unite to live out the fulfillment of all things to the maturity of Christ.

With Love,

Candace 

©Candace Huffmaster, 2011 All Rights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly Inc™