Thursday, March 24, 2011
Be the Beauty in the Midst of Chaos
KB, Inc’s world-wide motto is alive
Hip, Hip Hooray! Now our organization is seeing beauty emerge all around the world. When we changed our "slogan" from Loving Who You Were Divinely Created To BE to Reaching Through Chaos, Seeing True Beauty Emerge we did not quiet understand why - because we knew the first one was correct. However, we had to believe in what God saw beneath the chaos in order to find the faith which enabled our perseverance to help others not only see what we saw, but believe in it.
As we began telling women and children that they were desired, loved and had a reason to not be afraid, we saw them embrace the " idea" of hope. But as we stuck by them~ encouraging them to believe that even as God forsaken as life can feel at times, there are always lovely moments too; we noticed they were actually reaching out to grab onto that hope and tucking it away to protect it. But the day we understood with His understanding was when we saw His "beauty mark". It was the day that all the pieces collided to perfectly mesh. For the first time I know I saw the elusive Kaleidoscope Butterfly. Although it was one moment it was also many and there will be many more. Because as we are walking and relating to these lovely individuals God is revealing precious details which are transforming their minds to see that they, themselves, need to BE BEAUTY in this world of chaos.
We are witness to the fact that there is not a more beautiful sight than His hand reaching through their chaos to share in very real ways.
Our work is simple but true:
We believe True Beauty is as a seed planted within you, tenderly tucked into a deep, dark space. Alone with such dreams of grandeur, restlessly squirming, simply dying to be released! It truly believes there is something much larger and unique it is to be. It feels it could bestow beauty and goodness upon an unaesthetic world. “Just as the butterfly is always within the caterpillar – so too your beauty is fighting to take flight and ride the breeze. You are a kaleidoscope butterfly, a vision foreseen in the mind of the Great Divine. He delights in what you have to offer. He created you to rise above and be seen. So flutter your jagged, shattered pieces in His sunlight. His hand merges all our shapes in His time. To Him we are not missing or broken we are His Delight and perfect in His sight.
We make our request known and know it is His will:
Do not look with your eyes to perceive reality. Do not allow this world to diminish what He sees. Push through the weight trying to hold and bury you. Stand tall in His continence, mercy and grace. Reach up and out with your arms wide. Turn your face to be set on the sun. Allow your bud to blossom. Be open for all to see and embrace. Release the joy in your heart for their pleasure. Allow it to pour out, free. Keep it flowing till the scent of it rises - as a fragrant offering of what you believe all heaven can now see.
So allow us to encourage you "BE the Beauty in chaos no one can stop you – honest!"
With the Love of our Christ,
Kisses,
Candace
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Passing The Test - By Os Hillman
The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors - to David. - 1 Samuel 28:17b
When God anoints a person, a pattern of testing appears to take place at specific times in the leader's life. God often takes each leader through four major tests to determine if that person will achieve God's ultimate call on his or her life. The person's response to these tests is the deciding factor in whether they can advance to the next level of responsibility in God's Kingdom.
Control - Control is one of the first tests. Saul spent most of his time as king trying to prevent others from getting what he had. Saul never got to the place with God in which he was a grateful recipient of God's goodness to him. Saul was a religious controller. This control led to disobedience and ultimately being rejected by God because Saul no longer was a vessel God could use.
Bitterness - Every major character in the Bible was hurt by another person at one time or another. Jesus was hurt deeply when Judas, a trusted follower, betrayed Him. Despite knowing this was going to happen, Jesus responded by washing Judas' feet. Every anointed leader will have a Judas experience at one time or another. God watches us to see how we will respond to this test. Will we take up an offense? Will we retaliate? It is one of the most difficult tests to pass.
Power - Power is the opposite of servanthood. Jesus had all authority in Heaven and earth, so satan tempted Jesus at the top of the mountain to use His power to remove Himself from a difficult circumstance. How will we use the power and influence God has entrusted to us? Do we seek to gain more power? There is a common phrase in the investment community, "He who has the gold rules." Jesus modeled the opposite. He was the ultimate servant leader.
Greed - This is a difficult one. Money has the ability to have great influence for either good or bad. When it is a focus in our life, it becomes a tool of destruction. When it is a by-product, it can become a great blessing. Many leaders started out well - only to be derailed once prosperity became a part of their life. There are thousands who can blossom spiritually in adversity; only a few can thrive spiritually under prosperity.
As leaders, we must be aware when we are being tested. You can be confident that each one of these tests will be thrown your way if God calls you for His purposes. Will you pass these tests? Ask for God's grace today to walk through these tests victoriously.
~Go to our main web page and click on the TGIF for more devotions and information on Os's organization.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Conversation With My Dad
What a glorious day you have painted for us to enjoy.
What did you have in mind when you designed it?
Who were you propelling your good pleasure toward in your grandeur of love?
Who were you rescuing from the clutches of evil?
Who are you delivering out of darkness into your glorious light?
I call all life giving angels to hearken to your response
from the north, the east, the south and the west.
Perch your longing ears and listen to my request;
Wait on the Lord of Lords, our King of Kings to respond,
Then help him as you go to fulfill His grand designs.
Alone there is no rest for the weary,
But in Him our souls have eternal peace and joy.
Let's use our feet to make our way to them.
Let's use our eyes to seek them out.
Let's use our hands to reach through their darkness.
Let's use our voice to turn on their light.
Stand and seek to watch Him passing.
He is showing us the way.
The Heavenly Highway is the pathway.
In His secret abode we will all be safe.
Thank you Dad,
In Christ we ask, live and love - always,
Kisses,
C
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Conversation With Dad
I pray, God, that you bless the thoughts of my mind, search my intentions and make them pure.
Enlighten me, so that I may see the truth as you have arranged.
In all ways, I thank you for your protection, provision and good pleasure toward myself and others.
Ordain my steps: the process you wish me to take-clarify the extensions of my efforts as I merge.
No good thing will I withhold, unto them
Because you first loved me, I may too love them.
In Christ I dwell in you; in Him I exist in you
Together we are One; through the power and the gift
To us has been given much
Let our faithful eyes behold
The beauty of our life, as we dutifully unfold
Rise up, one and all, in the life He died to live
Go forth, in one accord, to speak His truths in Love
Be gentle as you go, there is much they do not know
Be kind to all you touch, His hand is whom they feel
Be generous with the gifts you give, He provides beyond all means:
the power, truth and skill to accomplish what He deems fit
Be bold with what you teach, yet temperate in all you say
May we never lead astray, His children on their way
Be patient while you're there, we follow the peaceable One
Be wise and listen well, only speak the truths you're told
Be faithful to what you say; be slow to commit our God:
He is the faithful and true; we serve with what we are fed
At times we must fast to provide - trusting He will always show up
He will never be late; after all........He set the time
In Peace to all
With the Love of our Christ,
Kisses,
C~
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Insecure Leadership
"When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi" (Matt 2:16-17).Any leader who is not secure in God will be insecure in their leadership actions. King Herod was such a leader. He feared the loss of power and had to control every aspect of the people he was ruling. When Herod heard about Jesus' coming birth, his insecurity became out of control and led to making life-threatening decisions for those in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Such a leader has deep-seated control issues rooted in the fear of loss of power, money and prestige. This also led to lying to protect his kingdom. When the wise men told Herod about the coming Messiah, Herod told them he wanted to know when He was born in order to worship him. He had no such plans. He wanted to kill him.
Herod told the wise men to report back to him when the child was born. The wise men were divinely warned not to return to Jerusalem and report back to Herod. When Herod discovered this, he became furious and issued the edict to kill every child under two years old in Bethlehem and the surrounding districts.
Whenever a leader has deep-seated control issues rooted in fear, their actions surface repeatedly when placed under stress. Arguments, manipulation of others, and confrontation with subordinates usually follows.
However, a leader who has yielded his life and his work to God can relinquish outcomes to the Lord and let God change things that may go astray. A secure leader realizes God is the source of His power and leadership and he does not need to fear others who may demonstrate leadership qualities. Instead, they are able to affirm them for the sake of the organization.
Pray that God makes you a leader who is secure in your position given by God.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Obedience-Based Decisions
"We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." - Acts 5:32
So often we as a society equate numbers with success. The larger the conference, the more successful we deem it. The larger a church, the more we believe that God is blessing. And so on. I recall planning a conference one time. Registrations were not where I felt they needed to be a few weeks before the date of the event. It wasn't long before I began to get "under the pile" about the level of attendance. My friend, who was organizing this conference with me, called and asked how I was doing. I had to confess where I was. He immediately reminded me of my own teaching in this area. We are all called to be led by the Spirit, not by outcomes. "If God called us to put on this conference, then the outcome is up to Him if we have done our part." He went on to explain how he learned this lesson in a similar way a few years earlier.
He and a friend were led to host a Bible study group. His friend was to speak. It was nine o'clock and they were the only two people there. His friend was discouraged and was ready to leave.
"No," said my friend. "We have done what the Holy Spirit directed." He then stood up and began to welcome people as though there were many in the room. (No one was in the room.) He introduced his friend and they began the meeting. A few minutes later, people began to straggle in. By the time the meeting was over, ten had shown up, and one man in particular was impacted by the meeting.
Being led by the Spirit often means we must not use the world's standard for success as our measuring stick. You never know what an act of obedience will yield at the time. We must leave results to God. Our role is to obey. His role is to bring results from our obedience.
Do you make decisions based on the potential outcome or by the direction of the Holy Spirit in your life? Do you overly evaluate the pros and cons without consideration to what the Holy Spirit might be saying deep inside? We are all prone to make decisions based on reasoning alone. Ask God to give you a willingness and ability to hear the Holy Spirit and to obey His promptings.
On our main page www.kaleidoscopebutterfly.org there is a tab for TGIF daily devotions. You can go to that and get the link to Os Hillmans site. It is wonderful encouragement for christians in the work place.
My prayers cover each of you today as you live by faith and not by sight and lean on His understanding. I thank God that His ways are not our ways.
Love,
Candace
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Poetry and Praise
Silent Whispers
Silent whispers fill the air
a listening ear will always hear
the voice is clear,
it speaks with intent
to lift their eyes,
to see his ways,
to meet their need
at the appropriate time
Answers they seek
for hours…. days
for months they speak,
their years slip away
their hope cast down,
their heart begins to freeze
their lives become cold ….
empty isolation… seems real
yet they are never alone…
no matter how it feels
He hears them ask
He sees them seek
for hours, day..
they listen and speak
they turn their ways,
to follow the voice
to see this wisdom,
to seek this truth
They struggle and cry
they demand and denounce
their months become years,
their passions ignite
their voices they lift
their eyes start to glare
their hands once raised in praise
are now contorted in fear
A stranger walks past
with no agenda or need
Just the person of Christ
Walking throughout His days
He would never disturb
this lonely troubled soul
Yet He is pulled by a pain
to stop silently and ask
Why does he cry?
He seems writhed in toil.
I remember that life
How I plead for release
You came to my rescue
You delivered my soul
You love this man
as much as you love me
Please have your hearts desire
I will stand for his cause
I know your cause is love….
for true beauty to reign
For zoe life to be given
and for the gift to be received
Prepare my heart in your presence
prepare the course and way
He is the child of your creation
wield your power and might
You created his freedom
respectfully help him to yield
You know all of these moments
you have seen throughout the years
You knew we both would be here
and I know your choices are divine
So have all that you hope for
live here in my stead
Use my feet to go to him
reach him in his need
Use your heart within me
to obtain your righteous intent
My trust is in your mercy
My strength held firmly within your grace
My courage from the peace you offer
My freedom through what I believe
In stillness I wait to hear you
in faith I listen to receive
Quietly..whispers enter our chamber
truth and justice fill the air
The tone is loving and caring
the voice convicting and sure
My voice now clearly speaking..
I lift my eye to see!
In view is this great cloud of witnesses
charging to be at his side
Singing: My God your words are righteous
holy, lovely and pure
They are a lamp unto them
a blanket to cover their chill
We ask today that he hear you
to see you as we also see
To be broken free from deception
To live lifted above all and freed
For all things there is a season
Let his season finally thaw
Let him walk into your presence
receiving his room with a view
Never again to be lonely
and to have rest for his weary soul.
By Candace Huffmaster
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