Opportunity is God's Divine Design

Watercolor Title: Opportunity
By: Candace Huffmaster

Hebrews 11: 14, 15    Those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for their own country.  If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they could have found a way to go back.

God created all things: He perceived, He conceived and believed; He establishes their goodness and set them in place.  He opened up all time with opportunities and allows us to choose which we’ll take. 

In the beginning, God set Adam in place giving him the opportunity to live or die.  We are told to choose who we will follow and He lovingly asks us to choose to live.  Only man is involved with taking hold of these opportunities.  Man then chooses a spiritual ally to propel it into reality; either spirit is willing to receive this opportunity in order that it may live in the space of your moments.  Which will you merge with?

Think about this: Sin is crouching, we are told, waiting to seize the opportunity to live in us.  When we live in sin, it is no longer God’s divine design living but Satan’s distortion in its place.  When we die with Christ to sin, the Holy Spirit is resurrecting God divine designs for our life.

Today, in each moment, I pray that we seize His opportunities and merge with the power of His truth.  Plant His eternal words within and around us, not letting evil conquer us, but conquering evil with His Goodness!

©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

Broken.....Beyond Repair

As I was prayerfully considering a second piece for the upcoming exhibit, Divine Design, the same thought kept running circles in my mind:  God alone creates on a level of divinity......We are His precious designs, each of us! And every single one of us are broken.....beyond repair without Him!  But then it started minimizing to broken beyond repair....broken beyond repair...broken beyond repair. 

Then all of a sudden, it hit me; "NO we're NOT!"  Yes, we are earthen vessels - pressed on all side but NOT crushed, as it states in 2 Corinthians.  And YES, we do fall and when we fall we will get broken. However,  the stone we fall upon will not fall upon us as to crush us.  This is what Luke 20:18 states: 

"Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken. If that stone falls on anyone, it will crush that person."

It is terribly hard, with all eyes focused on our missteps seemingly waiting to push us the rest of the way down, or trip us while we're unstable.  In those moments I can relate to the psalmist who wrote: But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling; my steps had almost slipped........in Psalms 73:2.  But even if I do trip, I remember Isaiah 41:10:

Don't be afraid, because I am with you. Don't be intimidated; I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will support you with my victorious right hand.

And if God be for us who can take away our peace?  What shadow is greater than His light?  What arm is stronger or reaches deeper and farther than His?  He also promised us that no one will snatch us from His mighty hand, and Christ promised that He did not loose one of us. 

But mostly, as I was thanking God for all this I remembered Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4: 18,19 where Jesus quotes Isaiah:

 The Spirit of the Almighty LORD is with me because the LORD has anointed me to deliver good news to humble people. He has sent me to heal those who are brokenhearted, to announce that captives will be set free and prisoners will be released.

Jesus was in the synagogue, in Nazareth,  on the day of worship.  He had returned to Galilee and we are told that the news about him spread throughout the surrounding country because the power of the Spirit was with him.  He stood up to read the lesson and the attendant gave him the book of Isaiah.  Opening it He read:

"The spirit of the Lord is with me.  He has anointed me to tell the Good News to the poor.  He has sent me to announce forgiveness to the prisoners of sin and the restoring of sight to the blind, to forgive those who have been shattered by sin, to announce the year of the Lord's favor."

Then Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.  Everyone in the synagogue watch him closely.....As he said, "This passage came true today when you heard me read it!"

It was then that I was so very mindful of the fortitude Christ died to grant us.  I thought about how a mere mortal, without the empowerment of God's holy spirit would have been crushed under that type of pressure. 

I thank God for His magnificent omnipresence, mercy and grace, enabling me to see something so divine it is quiet out of this world:  Jesus!  the author and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

So, YES....I might trip, I might fall, I might even get some chips, cracks and fractures, BUT God, through Christ has placed His spirit within me to bind up all that each and every time.  This is the hope that I have which takes me FAR beyond any despair into His presence which repairs all things and makes them new again!

Etch that on your heart, today my friends!
Kisses,
Candace

 

Broken....Beyond Despair
Watercolor
By Candace Huffmaster





©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

The Masquerade

Oh the struggle to exist as mere man

In the ambivalent throws of strong and weak

As guilt floods we are pierced by the shame

Listless in fear then we’re snared.

With my last breath I fight my way up,

So proud that the weak me wasn’t seen

Still I hear their words rise all the same.

In my charade I parade as they mock

“Never show fear: don’t tremble or shake”

The truth is I’d like them to see,

But these voices seem too smart; they know.

This story’s they’ve lived, they don’t lie……

So my heart starts to hurt and I hide.

It was then, these fears crouching all stood

They rushed in, overtook my space

A strong army has bound me up tight

“Oh please release me”, I say to thin air

Under weight of their silence I snap!

“Who are you?” I shout with no fear

 “Why Me do you bind night to day?”

Eyes open, no reply, I give in.

Oh my mind….in my mind, is it true?

I’ve asked them to leave, they never do!

Poachers, not neighbors I’d invite...

Is it no one just me by myself?

Or maybe spirits which knock me about?

If I’m strong and against nothing I fight

It’s all futile which causes great strife!

“DEAR GOD!” I cry out; “am I alone?”

“Is it your Spirit here; can’t it Help?”

I know you don’t bind, you give life!

“Calm now I hear; I AM here”

It was your ears which receive not my sound

You’re correct, I am no poacher, I AM King

I don’t steal refuge, for I haven’t a need

Because you asked I’ll explain,

Come and sit still for a time:

When strangers become neighbors then friends...

In unity families begin

In time all these bindings wrapping tight

Unravel by the lovely which fills

Though their eyes see your face, it’s your heart

Displaying now love which was lost

Perfecting the balance you find rest

Remember, no one does your work

Side by Side we each carry our own

Do not masque or take stage with a show

Man is MORE than mere strength that you know

He is tender and kind -easily hurt

Gentle and compassionate – causing pain

In terror he hid this away

Behind a façade built for strength

But the pain which was weak overwhelmed

For My power will not be denied,

This alone is your ability to thrive

Your questions are cosmic you know

They created this battle for your soul

Receive now my power from above

Be confident of His Might, not your own

Let them see your true beauty unfold

His Spirit will rightly divide

In peace He will enter then they’ll know

Be a guide unto them like the sun

Permeate with warmth from your soul

The truth is, many do believe

But the distance for them is too great

Show them My heavens bowed low,

Showed Grace, in My mercy I came

Let them linger, hear My voice, call their name

In My kindness remember their pain

Be patient for now you too see

The many who tie up these things.

By Candace Huffmaster

Original 2005, Update ©Candace Huffmaster 2012, All Copyrights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

Beside Still Waters

Water Color

by Candace Huffmaster

Pitifully, Pity Filled Tears

Pitifully Pity Filled Tears

Be appalled, even shudder

But don’t worry, I’m here

Don’t live your life fearful

Don’t lay down in defeat

If you find yourself sinking….

Under pressure you deflate…..

Speak my words of wisdom;

Rise up on your feet!

If they don’t listen….

If they seem not to care….

Remember, my eyes are watching

And My angels are there!

Stand tall in My just ways,

Yet humble your self

Love all things that I love,

Allow pity to form tears.

Abhor all things evil!

Making room for My grace

But as far as you’re able

With All men be at peace  

By Candace Huffmaster

© 2011 All Rights Reserved

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc™

There's A Cadence in my Soul...

The Real You

Today, there’s a cadence in my soul:

Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace

There is a real you lying in wait,

Planted deeply within your hearts seat;

When young,  she was all that you knew;

But under others you were buried from light;

Their debris covered what wouldn’t conform,

To their rules deemed over your life;

So this child that was to be,

Hid in darkness away from their sight.


Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace

For years the child tried to speak,

But it learned to adjust its own speech;

It tried desperately to develop alone,

Although its ways were never pleasing enough;

Soon it laid rest in the hope of its dreams;

Till what was to be, drifted off to sleep,

 Sending an alter to rise up in her stead;

At a distance which felt safe from shame.


Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace

There were times when she tried to awake,

To fill the empty halls with her sound;

But when stirred, a terror would scream;

In innocence to survive, she laid down;

Could she cope with all of their ways?

Could she face their manipulation of truths?


Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace

Such brutality from those touting “friends!”

Not one there to shield her in any way.

Naive to it all, she won’t leave;

Sleep appears, to be the most loving thing;

In her dreams maybe she'll believe we am here.


Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace

So I prayed that one day she'd awake,

From the stir of a well rested state;

Her  vitality would well up inside:

that her dreams fill the halls of your mind;

Chasing echos you'd see you’re not alone.


Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace

Without us the visions incomplete.....

There is truth which she found - stored away;

Each a treasure stored  within distant shores;

All gifts for our walks through the tides

Proving their evidence was not truth but lies.


Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace

You were always so brave and so strong,

You kept going when you thought there was none;

Within you, was this child you protect,

Always mindful of the harms in your midst,

Because of your love, she’s still alive;

To see things in the purity of her eyes.


Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace

When hope you defer,  her love heals;

When your words are strong, she keeps peace;

She waits for your strength to end..........

In humility she listens while you share.


Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace
Please remember her love; how she cares.....

Today look at life through her stare;

Through her focus see what she sees;

 For her sights are not set toward blame.

 She sees purity, enlightenment and peace.

Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace

Hear her voice as the innocence it is,

Whispering “Come with me live, love and laugh”

“For this journey is forever, yet not long”

“Open up; just a glimpse and you'll see”

“Remember the real you; be free”


Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace

“Together we can do many more things”

“Let’s not worry, for nothing we lack”

Our needs are met and there's more,

..............To go, to dream, to create”

“Release the weights of this world”

“This view changes your perception and view.”


Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace

“Feel the wind of my words lift you up”

“Be stirred by the melody she sing”

“Keep the tune in your heart while we fly”

“So no harm, will our mind ever meet”

“Do not enter the dark, we need light”

“Let’s extend wings of peace and be free”

“Share the truth as our flight takes us up”


Chase light…. be salt….. extend peace


There are many sleeping children in our midst,
resting in dreams of their release
to chase light, be salt, extend peace
 together let's call out their name
and rejoice as they rise in this wake.

Candace Huffmaster ©2011 All Rights Reserved

A. A. MacQueen's newest books

We are very excited!  A. A. MacQueen's books are available:

Following Claire is the story of the deep love that Mac MacClaine has for his wife, Dr. Claire MacClaine.  Much of the story reflects that love and the heartache that Mac experiences when he loses her.  And then, how he deals with it.   A bit of suspense is brought into the story when a family member is abducted in Washington, D.C.  We then learn how Mac can deal with another type of crisis.

Doing Good explores the seedy underworld of child trafficking.  Again Mac MacClaine is brought into the story when he reconnects with an old friend in Nashville, Tennessee.  Mac is instrumental in bringing justice to an otherwise bad situation.  The FBI, who is running the investigation, finds there is trouble in their midst and they must get help from outside their organization to fix it.

Clicking on the books will take you to Amazon.com where you can download his books.  You can find out more about the author by visiting his site - link below.

A. A. MacQueen

Author of Mac MacClaine & Harry Kincaid Adventure Novels

www.aamacqueen.com