Protecting Your Heart as You Pray

It is wonderful that we have the collection of situations compiled in God's written word to show us how He thinks, what He desires and many of His warnings.  We know that Joseph correctly "ran" from a snare, we know that Lot and his family were told to flee.  Lot's wife turned back and was turned to a pillar of salt.  We also know that David was told to "run" toward a battle, Joshua was told to instruct everyone to stay but instead of fighting with weapons to use the actions of their feet and releasing their breath, blowing trumpets and shouting.  We also know that Christ is with us showing us what we individually are to do when called to fight the good fight.  Do question is do you believe it.....I mean REALLY believe that?

If so, and He has called you to be what I refer to as a bended warrior, a warrior on your knees, then utilize this prayer in prose to protect your heart as you faithfully kneel in the gap for the one He is trying desperately to save.  This is His promise to anyone given the grace to be his lost sheep security blanket: 

James 5: 19, 20 (NAS)

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

My Sad Heart Sings

My sad heart sings, for His promises I believe
My faith hold firm joy, which I know the morning brings
Grief for the loss, as my wailing pours out
I pity his place, though I know his days are safe

My God this is hard, even with all I know
My experience is not large, compared to his need
I know you use all things, to accomplish his good
But for now my heart is breaking, as I feel his despair
Through anger and vengeance his wrath is felt

These burdens you bore, as it ripped off your flesh
But I too feel torn from the pressure and hate
Protect my heart with your hand, for it heals all these things
So that I may speak boldly, withholding no good thing
I denounce all other power, except for your name
Nothing else is eternal, your love binds to uphold
I pray that he seek you, your counsel in full
To see all things clearly: that he is adored,
In Christ there is no condemnation…no guilt or shame

I request satan be bound from him, and he protected by your grace
Have mercy upon him; what he sees is a lie
Pierce him deeply to usher in your light
In you there is no shifting shadow only angels to take charge
All good things you offer so that his mind may transform
I beseech you dear Father, this is my request:
To love him and save him, to prosper him in all ways
If I am a hindrance, remove me this day
His life is too precious and I am already saved
In Christ, through the Holy Spirit, my faith knows this is done
To God be all the glory for the mighty things he has done
~by Candace Huffmaster
    ©2011 All Rights Reserved

Conversations With My Dad - Poetry

Don't Dance With Your Demons

I love you so deeply…..
Speak to my heart..........
Be food for my soul.......
Your gentle voice encourages me, washes the world away;
Lifts the weight of debris, softens the earth of my flesh
Use your hands now to mold me, into your perfect fit.
Don’t dance with your demons, just take my hand
We’ll circle to the music, your body, my lead
Our gaze will lock; you’ll see only my face
As the music infuses, they rhythm soothes
We’ll glide on the dance floor in harmony perfectly timed
All on-lookers will be silent watching such a bond.


When learning it is awkward, hard to move smooth
Your muscles won’t flex or bend as they should
Patience and time train and build skill
Suddenly the dancer is beauty unveiled.
The music, is my voice, melodious as a bird
The instruments of harmony, the woodwinds of my words
My hand is the conductor, my children the notes
The audience is prepared and waiting with baited breath
Our curtain is split, rolling back like the tide
So let us work our magic while they are ready to ride.


There is so much to say, and time is at hand
Remember my instructions, wait for my prompt
Then all things come together, no note will sound flat
The notes are like drops of water which comprise the sea
The movements are like a compulsion bursting forth directed by me
The impact controlled for cause and outcome
To arouse the emotions of the anticipant crowd
They have come for a reason, let’s not let them down
Their passion will rise and their hearts will be moved
Their souls will be softened; my blood can roll in
Then return into our family held tightly in my hand.


Think of a farmer, one seed in his palm
He looks for a spot best suited for that life:
Perfect soil, sun or shade with nourishment it needs
He keeps watch to protect its growth
He loves it, supports it when its weight is too much
Till strength in its trunk help handle the size.

My hand is sufficient to meet all the needs
The plants have no worries; they grow as they’re willed
Predestined in all ways, for He know what they will be
A rose won’t grow coconuts and grass won’t become a tree
But each is perfection for its purpose and need
Beauty and function….now all is complete.
By Candace Huffmaster©

Good Work or God Work?

That You May Marvel

from Experiencing God Day by Day devotional



"The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel." (John 5:19-20)




Jesus, realizing that His role was that of a servant, never sought to initiate activity for the Father (Matt. 20:28). The servant never sets the agenda—the master does. The servant must be so alert to what the master is doing that whenever the master begins to move in a direction the servant quickly joins him. Even the Son of God did not assume He knew the best thing to do in a situation. Instead, He looked to see the Father’s activity and then joined Him. Jesus knew His Father so well that He was keenly sensitive to divine activity around Him, immediately recognizing His Father at work.



It is possible for us to be so busy trying to bring God into our activity that we don’t even notice Him at work around us. He seeks to redirect our attention so that we might join Him, but we tend to be self-centered, evaluating everything by how it affects us. We must learn to view events around us from God’s perspective. Then we will see our world very differently. When God brings someone across our path, we will look to see if God is convicting that person of his need for salvation. Perhaps God is comforting someone in her sorrow. God might be encouraging your friend as she faces a challenge. We will then adjust our lives to join God as He works in that person’s life. We ought to live each day with tremendous anticipation as we look to see where God is working around us. As our eyes are opened to His activity, we will marvel at His great works. -By Blackaby

When I read this the first thing I think is "So when things are not flowing I must have stepped out of God's work and into MY work". I wish it were as simple as that. It is as if we are in a thick rain forest of distraction trying desperately to discern where God is and God is not. Our world is so filled with people who know how to walk the walk and hide the agenda. Yet if we stick close enough, for long enough their true intentions will finally be revealed. Isn't that what God promised? Light will shine into darkness and show it for what it is. But how dark is that darkness? We desire to put it on a scale from 1 to 10. That is why we are in the rain forest isn't it? We see how lush it is. We are drawn to its color, sound it is very surreal from the exterior. We know that there is a high possibility that IT has to offer the experience we have been looking for. So let us ponder, what if...we ARE looking for God in the rain forest and not simply a vain experience to grow "our person". What if..we think the reason it is so surreal is due to the supernatural outpour of God's essence? Wouldn't that be the most wooing of all? Isn't that what we desire to experience? And there it is again...that is a self experience. If you have ever listened to more than 5 of Joyce Meyer's segments you will hear her drone "What about me, What about me, What about me!" The reason we have to laugh is because it is real...some times it is a nervous laugh =D. Okay, let's try this one more time..What if, we see it think it surreal so surely we will find God there? Well, maybe what we should have been asking is why am I not with God before I get there? God is everywhere...He is not in an experience..he is the experience.

Further down in John 5:22-25 which I will close with and pick up here tomorrow it states:

"The Father doesn't judge anyone. He has entrusted judgment entirely to the Son so that everyone will honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever doesn't honor the Son doesn't honor the Father who sent him. I can guarantee this truth: Those who listen to what I say and believe in the one who sent me will have eternal life. They won't be judged because they have already passed from death to life. "I can guarantee this truth: A time is coming (and is now here) when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who respond to it will live. The Father is the source of life, and he has enabled the Son to be the source of life too. "He has also given the Son authority to pass judgment because he is the Son of Man. Don't be surprised at what I've just said. A time is coming when all the dead will hear his voice, and they will come out of their tombs. Those who have done good will come back to life and live. But those who have done evil will come back to life and will be judged.

I thank God that He doesn't judge anyone and that the Son has promised we are saved from what we do not understand. I thank God he has mercy on us and give us the grace to stick in every time we miss it. I pray for us all to extend this Kindness in God's love to everyone, knowing all things are common to us. And this was even the work of God so that none of us could boast.

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

Conversations With My Dad - Poetry

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

IF

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

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

His Agony, Our Hope

Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples . . . . ’Stay here and watch with Me’ —Matthew 26:36, 38

We can never fully comprehend Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, but at least we don’t have to misunderstand it. It is the agony of God and man in one Person, coming face to face with sin. We cannot learn about Gethsemane through personal experience. Gethsemane and Calvary represent something totally unique— they are the gateway into life for us.

 

It was not death on the cross that Jesus agonized over in Gethsemane. In fact, He stated very emphatically that He came with the purpose of dying. His concern here was that He might not get through this struggle as the Son of Man. He was confident of getting through it as the Son of God— Satan could not touch Him there. But Satan’s assault was that our Lord would come through for us on His own solely as the Son of Man. If Jesus had done that, He could not have been our Savior (see Hebrews 9:11-15 ). Read the record of His agony in Gethsemane in light of His earlier wilderness temptation— “. . . the devil . . . departed from Him until an opportune time” ( Luke 4:13 ). In Gethsemane, Satan came back and was overthrown again. Satan’s final assault against our Lord as the Son of Man was in Gethsemane.

The agony in Gethsemane was the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Savior of the world. The veil is pulled back here to reveal all that it cost Him to make it possible for us to become sons of God. His agony was the basis for the simplicity of our salvation. The Cross of Christ was a triumph for the Son of Man. It was not only a sign that our Lord had triumphed, but that He had triumphed to save the human race. Because of what the Son of Man went through, every human being has been provided with a way of access into the very presence of God.- By Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Sing From My Heart Your Great Wisdom

Psalm 50:15 "Call on me in times of trouble, I will rescue you, and you will honor me."

Good Morning Father!

I thank you for this day. For your mercy which starts it and your grace that gets me through.

I praise you, your design is complete. Each moment you saw beforehand, each opportunity in its place, the knowledge of your will extended, the opportunity available and within our reach.

I ask for your understanding, to wait till I feel your peace, to be lifted as I see the formation and the joy to propel your perfect speed.

Sing from my heart your great wisdom; dazzle us all with your will. Propel us into your timing, your pathway perfectly laid. Raise us up this morning, together to claim your ways; all of us with one motive, an offering to our King.

Today help us remember, as we focus on His calling and plea: Life is for the living, death only part of this life; it is not the final position...only the collision between earth bound and our heavenly flight.

I pray for the angels that are charging, to be felt when the pressure is on, for all the intercessions of your righteousness, to pour heavily and ease the strife. For at the right moment, you hear us, and at the perfect moment you came. We all are bound in your victory; Hallelujah to our risen Lord.

God is Almighty in the Highest; His kingdom reaches and fills all things. Not bound to just the heavens, but now released to set the captives free.  Selah

In Christ,
Candace

Psalm 50
A Psalm by Asaph

The Lord, the only true God, has spoken.
he has summoned the earth from where the sun rises to where it sets.
God shines from Zion, the perfection of beauty.
Our God will come and will not remain silent.
A devouring fire is in front of him and a raging storm around him.
He summons heaven and earth to judge his people;
"Gather around me, my godly people who have mane a pledge to me through sacrifices."
The heavens announce his righteousness because God is the judge.    Selah
"Listen, my people, and I will speak.
Listen, Israel, and I will testify against you:  I am God, your God!
I am not criticizing you for your sacrifices or burnt offerings, which are always in front of me.
[But] I will not accept [another] young bull from your household or a single male goat from your pens.
Every creature in the forest, [even] the cattle on a thousand hills, is mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you, because the world  and all that it contains are mine.
Do I eat the meat of bulls or drink the gloos of goats?
Bring [your] thanks to God as a sacrifice, and keep your vows to the Most High.
Call on me in times of trouble.
I will rescue you, and you will honor me."
But God says to wicked people,  "How dare you quote my decrees and mouth my promises!
You hate disicpline, you toss my words behind you.
When you see a thief you want to make friends with him.
You keep company with people who commit adultery.
You let your mouth say anything evil.
Your tongue plans deceit.
You sit and talk against your own brother.
You slander your own mother's son.
When you did these things, I remained silent.
[That}made you think I was like you.
I will argue my point with you and lay it all out for you to see.
Consider this, you people who forget God.
Otherwise, I will tear you to pieces, and there will be no one left to rescue you.
Who offers thanks as a sacrifice honors me.
I will let everyone who continues in my way see the salvation that comes from God."

He is the Craftsman and We are His Tool

Cooperation

I can remember several times when I have been trying to get a task completed and I have to use some "handy-dandy" tool. If I did not have the tool, such as this great laser alignment gizmo my brother in law got my husband one year, it would have taken me over an hour to hang pictures. Another time I had a flat and if I had not had the jack as well as the wrench / lug nut apparatus I would not have been able to change my tire. Someone with upper body strength as a passenger would have been an asset at the time, but non the less I had what I needed to be able to get the job done.

Today I was listening to a sermon and heard the minister say the word COOPERATE. It hit me...we are God's tool. Will we cooperate with him? God is in control, will we allow Him to perform a function : exert power or influence through us, or will we miss out? God is wielding a series of operations 24/7, will he be able to use us? God follows a course of conduct this is often irregular to our world. He told us His ways are higher than our ways. He said that they ways to a fool seem right. Let's not be a fool....let's be a tool!

I pray that Today, we all feel His hand, His strength, His skill around us, supporting us and enabling us to co-operate through our day working His projects and getting His results.

Praise be to God and all glory in the Highest, Christ is Risen Indeed,
With Love,
Candace

I hope you enjoy reflecting on this poem - it helped me understand how this all applies to me. I hope you find the same.

A Tool in His Shed

I did create you. You were perfectly planned,
With the mouth of a lion, protective and strong,
And the beauty of a butterfly with flight set on a path.
The experience of deliverance, and truth, held you tight,
It’s bound around your waist and written on your heart.
Your help is through me and now you can boast,
Compassion is felt due to turbulence known.
Though the weight of the journey could have crushed your frail wings
Not one hair was harmed so give thanks to my mighty hand.
Color enhanced and beauty increased,
Mercy and freedom is what your voice beams.
Courage of the lion, fierce protection of my truth,
So tender to the protected, gaining strength to move on.
To stand firm in their own rights, which is my kingdom and their home,
Move swiftly and gracefully and with precision and skill,
All who are before you will shrink to your force,
Of Godspeed and confidence, of my vision in your eye,
My voice in your ear deflects all other sounds,
Your mission is my will, my salvation to the lost,
With purpose and a plan made before you were even born.
You are in my hand, a tool I am to use,
Your strength from my arm…your place where I put,
I turn, when needed, with precise push and pull.
You are to stop when I do not move,
My hand is fitting… my touch you know.
No other were you made for, casting my part,
To others you are useless and to fit would be so obviously forced.
Relax in my presence, all pressure removed,
Simple and perfect… a job done with ease.
I am not worried, so why do you need?
Confidence, my lovely, for your place is with me.
I am your shield, your vision, your way,
Just listen and follow, all through your days.
By Candace Huffmaster