December 31, 2012

Resolute Resolve....New Years Resolution

Today I was thinking about how I do not make the perfunctory New Years Resolutions any longer.  My question was why?  I certainly know there are things which I need to improve!  Have I become complacent in my ways?  Am I resigned to not perfect my imperfections?  Should I even put this on a blog for others to witness?  Oh my, the list went on a while........


But there it was, written in my own handwriting to be discovered when I am no longer here to protect my wandering ponderings any longer.  I will go ahead and send up a heavy prayer for whoever stumbles upon them in the future - ha ha.

As I prayerfully and methodically moved these puzzle pieces around, I found a resolution I can be proud to state:  My one and only resolution is this:

I resolve to be resolute in trusting God and pondering only His ways which are much higher than mine!

What I settled today was how ambiguous I felt that a resolution was.  It is almost an oxymoron to me.  Resolution, after all, is the act of resolving something; it is the act of answering.  God states not to lean on our own understanding but to seek Him in all our ways.  You all know this about me...I have SOO many questions running rampant in my mind, that I had to stop NEEDING answers.  This only leaves me with resolve.

I had to look up the true meaning of resolve and not simply what "I thought" it meant.  It is quiet enlightening to be honest.  In fact this gave me closure on my final resolution.  It means:

Obsolete; dissolve, melt.  To break-up, separate.  It also means to change by disintegration; to reduce by analysis; to resolve the problem into simple elements.  It means to distinguish between or make independently visible - adjacent parts of and another meaning is to separate into two compounds.

Ultimately it means to CAUSE resolution.  As soon as I read that it CAUSED me to have resolution with this dilemma.  You see I know God does not desire us to battle these simple things.  They are a distraction.  We are not supposed to battle our minds like the bull we were speaking about last week.
I know God wants resolution NOT revolution.  It is US, His creation, who choose to battle with His resolve, therein propelling all elements of warfare onto the very ground upholding us.  Just like the bull in the coliseum we spoke of last week.

It is as if we desire the knowledge of all choices to wade through to find an answer to even one of our questions.  But here is a question for you - how can we see that we have tripped upon the correct answer if most of the time we do not even know the proper question?  Silly isn't it?

God however, is resolute, He has no questions and sets all answers with LIFE.  He only desires to make clear the options, make truth understandable.  He is a God of order, mathematical and scientific solutions to chaotic reasoning.  In my opinion if math or science has not equated to His truth yet, then the problem is unresolved variables - not that the truth is unstable.

God is patient and will complete all things to our understanding in their proper time.  He is sectioning things for our ability to digest them.  We have to have the ability to comprehend.  He has assigned proper, relative, indisputable points and or persons who are able through him to properly align His wisdom.  He alone merges, separates and fulfills all things.

He promised to set the appointed times and not delay.  He will not quicken things.  He says in Habakkuk that the appointed time in coming and will not delay.  His truth resolves all matters, settles all disputes.  The truth is simply ....the truth.  He has no need to argue with anyone.  If He says it is so.....then so it will be!

There is no one higher than Himself so there is no one greater to change the order of things.  There will be no voting, no committees to overrule His resolution.  Everyone has something to resolve however:  whether to be one with his resolute resolve or go into eternity alone. 

Here is my final point:  When things are resolved, they come into one voice.  Isn't that something?  How many scriptures come to mind on that accord?  God says we will be One voice crying out in the wilderness.  This means we will no longer be harmonically unresolved.  His spirit will have His body harmonized and exhibiting consonance.  Think about it: we are living out the spirit leading us into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan in order that God can bring us from dissonance to consonance.......

So when you are lead to a ledge overlooking all things, or you are craving something tantalizing or promised if you simply compromise you can cut a corner to "have it all now", please be resolute in your belief that God cannot lie and all He has promised will come to pass.  Just like Satan himself, who will not be able to fulfill all the empty promised he is dangling in front of you to draw you away.

When you have done all to stand, stand firm my friends.  As my mom always says: This too shall pass! 

I have posted the words to Auld Lang Syne on Creativity Speaks along with a wonderful video of a German Band playing it.  I pray we all leave the past behind and stretch forward to reach our goal, which is Christ Jesus Himself - not dead but very much alive and well!

Happy New Year family, with Love,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copy Rights Reserved
Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc®

December 26, 2012

Who's in Charge, You or the Bull?

I hope this finds everyone well rested after the hustle and bustle of the festivities this week.  As usual most of the things we have been speaking about are related to sifting through our reality verses what others tell us our reality is.  Kind of crazy if we just stop long enough to put down all the pieces.  What is reality anyway?  We have been talking in groups about who gets to be right and why.

We are going to revisit some past points of view.  In stead of reposting them, I am simply going to pull out a couple of nuggets from each.  We can blend them nicely into all this and discuss them next week. 

If you need to refresh your  mind on recent thoughts click on the links below:

Why Do We Ask?
Limitations of the Incomplete
Help Me Escape

I want us to visualize something now:  Picture an arena, with the crowds all around cheering about something.  Now observe that their focus is on you in the center of something which appears to be a coliseum.  There is a bull facing you, and believe it or not you are a matador!  You are thinking through all your experiences when attempting this combat previously and making a plan.  Right now the bull is doing the same, you can see it in its eyes.  Suddenly, the bull is charging and you start moving .....flailing really.  In terror you grab onto this massive animals horns and jump to the side. 
The fierce bull snorts, shakes, bucks but you are still holding strong.  At this point you are simply grateful to still have the bull by the horns and not being down in the dirt trampled beyond recognition.

How many times are the thoughts we are wrestling with like that bull.  Revisit our conversations about keeping your peace and entering the coliseum today.  Who needs to have a bull by the horns anyway.  What do you have to prove to the crowds?  We know that the bull might allow us to "think" we are in control and at the reigns in this position.  However, when push comes to show.....the bull always has us and not the other way around. 

May God bless you and keep each and every one of you today in His peace which surpasses all understanding. Ponder Proverbs 23:4 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. Sometimes we are the bull, thank God He won't throw us to the ground. I also thank God that even when I am being the bull He will never leave me or forsake me. He is VERY skilled as the righteous matador!

With Love,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster, 2012 All Copy Rights Reserved
Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc®

December 19, 2012

Why Do We Ask?

I don't know about you guys but I listen to many people asking many questions each day.  To top it off I have my own stack of thoughts to sift through and process.  I have been thinking about what determines if we ask a question or not.  What are we looking for?  Here is where my processing started around the end of October:

Right and wrong (or sin) is not mysterious, it is simple.  James wrote it something like this: For him that knows the right thing to do and doesn't do it, it is sin (or wrong).  So many times we search the bible, ask others, google and what not wanting to know if we are thinking / doing something right ....or wrong.  It is like we want permission to prove that we are "OK".

The problem is, God says we devise things in our heart.  The holy spirit searches our heart and God judges the heart of a man.  He knows our intent because He knows our very thoughts.  Many times people speak but I cannot figure out what they are asking me - because they are attempting to retrieve a specific answer which I am not producing for them.  Usually it is after someone does something or receives a consequence when we rhetorically state "What were you thinking!"  It would not do us any good in most of these situations to ask someone "What are you thinking?" as a preemptive measure.

Are we looking for opportunity to please God or an opportunity to fee our flesh?  I was thinking about it like this:

If we treat God's word as if it were an album (vinyl) and we are the DJ spinning, scratching (and what ever other terms they use) playing only the parts we desire for our entertainment pleasure then there is a problem. If I were a DJ spinning His word, I pray that I'd freely spin the fullness of His truth.  God knew we'd be making mix tapes with His original recordings, so He warned all other artist about cutting or adding to His original mix.

He also says that His word started this party and will take us through all eternity.

So, what is your question?  What answer are you looking for? Why do you ask?  What do you want?
God's got a word for you - ask Him, He will answer - I promise!

Kisses,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster, 2012 All Rights Reserved
Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc®

December 18, 2012

Limitations of the Incomplete

"The truth is never incomplete; it is our understanding of the complete which is limited." in my opinion.... Isn't this what God means by Do not lean on your own understanding - His ways are higher than our ways?

It seems we attempt to amass our pieces of knowledge, experience and the like twisting the obscure until it fills all empty spots.  This makes us “feel” good.  Maybe we can even say a bit puffed up ourselves by our ability to build logic at times.   Hmmm…..we build something which when compiled comforts our emotions maybe?

However when tested our wisdom crumbles if it is not real; revealing the emptiness, the hollow the vast void which it was masking.  Fear causes us to grasp at the frays of knowledge when we fear we will not be able to obtain them – we can’t see how to reach them.

How ironic; this very thing should be what eases our dilemma, because it is not given because we gain it due to our own efforts and so we could rest in the love that He alone gives.  But each second we’re thinking, “What do I have to do”,” How does God need me and for what purpose?”  “What’s His plan?”

His plan was to create us, give into us, to relate with us.  He is not a task master; He is the spirit giving us life.  We already have purpose through being alive –boom, done!  Mute point guys….let’s move beyond now.

What if you lay down your task list and listen to the Lord?  What if you stop all the scurrying to simply allow Him to cherish a few moments with you – to love on you a bit?

Some where around you He will expose a new truth – He’ll reveal a distortion for you to comprehend.  Then He will use you and this experiential knowledge he related to you to share with someone in need.

All things are permissible but not all things are profitable to our soul.  Our spirit lacks nothing but desires more room to grow.  We keep it bound up in our box of limitations.  He desires to move up and out to liberate our space. 

We can do all things, do everything when we need – But today let’s not tempt Him; He’s testing our faith.  As Christ said to Peter – Satan has requested to sift your soul: But I have prayed fervently that your faith be made complete.  (Paraphrase)  Meaning : Nothing broken nothing missing ….to see the Father in Me – For where there’s doubt, the threshing will expose then all will see what we believe.  When we see the truth we understand a bit more. 

 Today if you hear something, take a moment to pause.  Look through the chaos; He’ll show you what is true.  Don’t align with the masses; speak truth to calm the storm.  Converse, for the Lord is with you; don’t battle with what you know ~ Faith comes by hearing and hearing from the Lords word….think about it.  
For group this week, see how many bible verses you can find within this.  You do not have to find the verses and your paraphrase or best recollection will be fine.  Together we will be discussing your perspective and I will find the verses for us if needed.
Till then extend peace and find rest for your souls :)

Kisses,
Candace

©Candace Huffmaster, 2012 All Rights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc®

December 12, 2012

12 12 12 - What Does It Mean?


Today is 12/12/12.  I find that interesting….but then again, I find most things interesting if I look at them long enough.  Sometimes I look at something and decide what I see must not over take priority.  It doesn’t fall off the list, but my list is really, really long now.

Which brings me back to today:

I woke up this morning realizing it was December 12, 2012.  I thought to myself – What a day! There must be such divine rejoicing going on.  Do I know why? No. Do I care? Well, I would have to say I am very curious because I know God uses numbers and sequence; for example: The Strong Exhaustive Concordance states that 12 is symbolic of God’s purpose and of course the Trinity.  But curiously enough, there are three other symbolic correlations in regard to the number three (coincidence – I think NOT!)  1) completion 2) testing and 3) resurrection.  Then of course, there are 12 months, 12 hours in a day and what started all these thoughts was - it is 12/12/12.   

Yet these are just pieces, if there is more I will have to wait for understanding.  I believe it is good to acknowledge things then listen, watch and allow them to unfold. If you think about it, that is what Mary did when Gabriel told her that she was going to give birth to Christ.  The bible says that she tucked it away in her heart, so to speak.  What do we do with these things which are tucked away?   As for me, I journal them all; I seek them out.  I place them in spaces like seeds, and I wait expectantly to see what will grow out of the ground.

Currently all the seeds around me are in regard to authenticity of the soul, spirit and our journey.  I have been reading and reflecting on the people comprising the ways of the Old Testament, Christ and the transformation of relationship with God.

One thing I am certain of at this point is the passage of the soul through each day: moments where choices are encountered; where limits are placed or released.   The soul, I believe is always progressing.  It seeks a guide to show it the way.  It reasons, it weighs, it determines; it evolves from the choices it compiles.  But does it mature?  Does it become wise? 

Today is 12/12/12 what does that mean – I don’t know.  Does it mean anything? Of course it does.  Each day is important.  Each second is valuable. Each word is written eternally.  Today, in only one hour, our mind has had about 3600 thoughts; whether you acknowledge them or not is up to you.  By the end of the day the approximate number of thoughts we are said to have are between 63,000 and 70,000. Meaning that by the end of this year alone most of us will have conceived 22,995,000 thoughts, on the low end of the spectrum.

No wonder I can’t get to the end of my discovery list!  Hmmm, I bet God made eternity just for people like me.  You know….. those who must get to the end of the list and won’t give up till we do.

I also think this is why God tells us things in advance, so that we will be looking out for them – for HIM.  Let’s keep our eyes peeled for things.  I pray that you and I will have a heightened awareness, an insatiable curiosity to find all His treasures, each and every second.  As Rosie O’Donnell said in Sleepless in Seattle “It’s like a little clue”. 

Kisses,
Candace
 
 

©Candace Huffmaster, 2012 All Copy Rights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc®