Inspiration from the Garden

You Do The Math!

I find myself using a question with my boys and myself lately. I ask them, "Are you Adding or Subtracting from a person? To add to some one never puts them down but lifts them up. Adding always produces a positive re-enforcement to their spiritual wealth. If you add to your wife then you will reap the benefits and rewards because it is in her to give back when adoration is shown. If you are adding to your children, they will begin to grow strong in the Lord and will add to yours in later years. To be an addition to someone's life means to pour yourself into them! You give them a piece (identity) of you that lifts them up, even if it is in their absence.

To Subtract! If we subtract we take away from our loved ones lives. We create deficits (or holes) in them. We take from their spiritual bank and create a negative balance. They will either stop allowing your negative campaign to steal their joy or take you to the cleaners in the court of true justice. Subtractions in the absence of a person or persons tend to always get the attention of those who you rob. People seem to be attracted to the negative before the positive. A negative smear against someone  will leave a deficit to all of those affected. Most people will begin to avoid you all together.  Avoiding you will be the deficit that they leave you by bankrupting your life. On a personal note: I have recently heard, watched and spoken to others about the current talk radio and television news networks about the polarization of our country. I am very disturbed by the finger pointing and negative slander that they preach to millions of people every day. I think that this is a horrible injustice for anyone to do. I don't care what side you are on it is still evasive and perverted maneuvering to say that We must think as they this or we are wrong. They are trying to persuade us to like their brand of ideas when they are as dark in their hearts as well. It is all subtracting from one man and adding it to their own base, OR SO THEY THINK.

A Warning to all husbands!

In closing, here is a great real life event that I thought would fit with this. I was working at a friends house a couple of weeks ago with a few friends. One of them said the comment about his wife (in her absence) "Man, I can't get my wife to watch an Action Movie. She always wants to lay around and watch chick flicks!" I thought quickly and said "Okay (friend) you can look at it like that or like this"! "You let her watch her chick flicks and you will see plenty of action later and a chance to be the lead man"! Now that's the power of Possitive Thinking.

The Plowman shall overtake all! (Seed to Maturity)

Amo. 9:13 The plowman shall overtake all. Redemption will produce agony and it is what must take place before we can walk into our purpose. Yes, Agony! You are a past, present or future Garden of God. He is your plowman. We rush to judgment too quickly and assume that our current situation or circumstance in life is a direct result of an unseen enemy at work in our lives to destroy us. Well, figuratively speaking that is true but the enemy isn't an outside force but an inside force. The real enemy is within me. I find that I am typically the source of my own resistance. This unseen enemy is me. It is when I have went as far as I can go and become so hardened against God that I place walls up against Him. Now we know that there is no real wall that I can keep God out of. There is only the "veil" that I have willfully placed over my eyes. The veil of the Tabernacle in the Old Testament was to prevent anyone from entering the Most Holy Place (Holy of Hollies) and it prevented our eyes from seeing God upon the mercy seat in the daily routine of the tabernacle service and ministries. In fact, Moses wore a veil after meeting with God. He placed a veil to prevent Israel from seeing just a glimpse of Gods glory. It isn't that God can't look upon man, but that he can't look upon  sin and man in his sin cannot face God. We have to have the veil in place so that we may try and cover our sin from Him. Have you ever tried to hide your sin from God? I have in my futile attempts to justify my position on an issue but knew it is easier to hide it from man and impossible to hide it from God. You may have been born again but that doesn't mean that we can't fall away. We walk away because the light (Glory of God) will expose our sin. We make a covering because we feel naked before Him. I have become as hardened ground so many times that God needs to start plowing my soil again to get it to reproduce again. We may have done a great work long ago but the bitterness in life causes us to become difficult to grow anything in us. That is why the plowman must overtake all. You were once a beautiful Garden and now you feel like a barren wasteland! I have worked in the landscaping industry for a long time but one thing is for sure. A good drought makes for an extremely hard ground. It is the first few inches of soil that harden the most. This to me represents that veil that must be rent or torn away. Christ is the grace in your life that will tear your insides open only to reveal Himself to be bigger than your sin.  He wishes to redeem us in every area of our lives. There in no rock that will be left unturned when God starts to plow you up and prepare you for amendments. (Additives that help the seed to germinate and grow)  The deeper you allow God to plow you up the more He will turn over and expose to you. God does not wish to reveal your sin but to cover it with the redemptive work of Christ and his shed blood. Redemption is agonizing and hurts. When God begins this process in us the blade(s) of His plow can dig deeper than we are ready for. It doesn't feel good to have so much turmoil and turn over around us. If we can just be still and know, the pain and discomfort will vanish and then it is time to replenish you. The only way to become fertile is to be full of the right nutrients in you (the ground, the earth) From dust you were made and dust you will return. Thats right, You are made from the dust of the earth. (Remember?) You will go through many born again moments in your life, but if we allow ourselves to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (tearing down strong towers (veils) in high places) Allow Christ to rip you open and die to him and resurrect in Him. One quick thought before I finish this blog! The Old Testament (Isa. 1:25) implies that we are brought out of the ground (earth) impure (filled with dross) and that we must have it purged out of us. Dross is symbolic of sin which is the impurities within us. The only way to have it purged from us is through fire! Revelation 1:14 and two other passages in revelation John said that in His (Christ's) eyes are as a flame of fire and in Revelation 5:6 says that He also had seven eyes. This is the symbolism of it and it is meant to redeem you! Seven is the number for completion, perfection and revealing. Christ sees you completely and looks upon you to reveal a work to be done in you that He may bring you into His perfection and complete a work within you that you may become as pure gold. That's right folks! The streets of the city of God are the people. They are not as you suppose! They are the vast amount of people who have been burned upon the alter of God and have become a beautiful and accepted sacrifice! Go ahead and let God plow you up good and take one step closer to becoming a Garden of God.

Hiding behind the Cross

Recently, during a service at the Salt Mine, a ministry in Charlotte that we attend, I heard a comment during the opening corporate prayer of the sermon about to be delivered by Pastor Steve Wright. It struck my wife and I both in a humble but deep sense. He said; "Lord? Hide me behind the cross!" It was simple but a harsh reality that most ministries forget. As I look out across the city of Charlotte and surrounding areas, I have observed those ministries who wish to build their towers to the heavens or the larger than life TV ministries that broadcast directly into the homes of millions of people daily preach a message of more. Since when did we get so lost in the message of I must increase that he can decrease? I think a closer look into this whole idea shows the perverted spiritual condition of the church and her purpose. I have always dis-agreed with those that wish to build large beautiful buildings, large ministry names and proclaim their right to rub a little oil on a cloth and deliver you from every illness you have. One thing for sure is that those ministries have their place.......with the hypochondriacs only! Okay, I'll stop ranting and raving there. That could be another blog all on its own. I do think that we must consider the natural order of things in order for us to see the pattern that God set for us all. In 1 CO. 15: 40 - 48, Paul is stating that the Natural is first then the Spiritual. A lot of times, God shows us a pattern through natural means to see the Spiritual meaning behind it. Let's take one of my favorite topics to teach this truth. That is flowers! Since I love anything to do with plants that is where I will expound. Everyone seems to always enjoy the flower in its season. That's right! It is when the flower blooms that everyone turns their head to look at it when driving through our neighborhoods or even back and forth to work. The question is: Do you ever stop to look at the flowers before or after its season? Well, we should because it is in both of those stages that the flower has done its greatest work. Before the season come the maturation process or the wilderness journey of that plant. It has to be nurtured just right to have that great long lasting season. This is the stage in which we develop Character in our lives. Anointing can take you very far but it is character that keeps you there and humble If we allow God to care for us and nurture us His way we will be able to not only grow strong and mature but quick as well. If God has conditioned you and nurtured you before this season then you will know how to handle your season behind the cross. On the flip side of your season is the phase in which you began to produce seeds (sons) and your decrease will help to fertilize the ground that your seeds will come to recognize you for. Their Spiritual Father! There is no one that will pay attention to a plant during its final stage. Why? It is not as pretty as it once was but it is here in which God can filter himself through you and do the greatest work! You see your seeds (sons) will look a lot like you but will have an identity all their own as well. If you look deep enough then you will see it is God our Father that we are pouring into our sons. First in us, then we pour Him into them. We pass a double portion on to them in humility. If God is our center focus and our hearts desire then we can humbly say that pouring ourselves into the next generation is our ultimate purpose. I have observed many ministries that should have decreased so that the work of Christ in them could be perfected. Too many times we get caught up in building a name, building a tower and our own kingdom that we totally miss to take the time to humble ourselves and hide behind the Cross. In the famous words of Forrest Gump, "That's all I got to say about thayat!

Love Ya

Scott

The bread of life?

What does the term "the bread of life" mean to you? Most men have merely scratched the surface of this without really digging deep enough to understand the real nuggets of truth beneath. Proverbs 25:2 says it clear enough to me about digging deep for truth. God has hidden His truths that we, as kings, may search them out. Jesus stated that He was the bread of life, right? He also stated that we had to eat of His flesh to inherit the Kingdom of God. He said that He was is the way,the truth and life! Let's think about it! Everytime Jesus began to tell us something about Himself it was all connected. Jesus is the bread of life. He is the truth in which we must consume to inherit the Kingdom. A king does not govern land, he governs people. The Kingdom of God is the inheritance that we are promised. When we have consumed Christ, the truth, the bread of life, then we as kings can father our sons into their inheritance. Now lets address the rest of this issue. It is important to understand that unleavened bread, bread without yeast, was  considered a "Kosher" part of the Jewish meal. The delicious, fluffy rolls you to eat at a steakhouse are leavened bread. Leaven bread is made with yeast. Yeast is a bacteria that causes inflamation or air pockets inside the bread, and makes it "puffed up". Anytime you have a bacteria, it will grow and in excess can make you sick. The significant symptom is bloating. A "puffed up" feeling. The same goes for us. Jesus pointed out that a little leaven, leavens the whole loaf. Here is another cool tidbit of info for you. Christ is the tree of life (Wisdom and eternal) He became that tree for our restoration. Then, there are those of the Pharisees in which Jesus called leavened. They were declared as puffed up by Paul and Jesus. Paul says in 1 Co. 13 that love is not puffed up. Leaven, or knowledge, is the poison, bacteria which pollutes the path to righteousness. It is just knowledge. Jesus said in Matthew 25:5 that the Pharasees broadened their phylacteries and enlarged the borders of their garments with Scriptures. The phylactery was a pocket placed into the headpeice of the Pharasees wardrobe. The bigger the pocket symbollized "the more scripture they knew". Have you ever met one of these types? (Don't get me started) They were proud and poisonous. They were choosing to eat from the tree of knowledge and were convinced that they were better because of their knowledge. That religious spirit still exist today in those who read and quote the word, but have not digested and allowed it to become a part of them. Their pride in their knowledge of the word is a veil that will not allow them to recognize this, until they consume Christ and allow Him to change their minds. We must take on the mind of Christ. We can't just think like Him but we must conform and renew our minds to tear down these strongholds. Christ's love is what brings balance to knowledge, through understanding and wisdom. Knowledge builds towers to the heavens. They will be abased! Knowledge, without love, will confound others and their ablility to understand you. Your knowledge will be noise, as a sounding brass or tinkling cymbals. The High Priest of the tabernacle in the Old Testament, would wear alternating brass bells and pomegranates on the hem of his garment. The brass symbolized knowldege, and the pomegranates between each brass represented love, because of it's many seeds. Love was the understanding and wisdom that kept knowledge quiet. It is not enough to know, we must also understand what we know and have the wisdom to apply it. You may be in communion with those of spiritual wisdom, but you will not receive their words of truth because you will think you know more. If you choose knowledge you may just Babel.

Scott & Christy

One Look says it all! Cody the Cool

Was that your sandwich? I hope that was'n't your drink then!

Seed to Maturity pt. 2

I sat here tonight waiting to collect my thoughts and rest my mind. As I did I began to think about the relationship between a Father and Son in the natural sense. Today Jonah (my 10 year old) said, "Dad, I want to have children one day but, why do people want to have children?" As I began to hear what he said it hit me pretty hard. That is a great question. One that deserves more than the typical parental answers that our lazy minds give sometimes. Wow! Jonah. You are truly a voice from God. The scripture states that there is no new thing under the sun. (Eccl 1:9) From medications, building materials, metals, technology or anything else to the natural elements that surround us. There is nothing new. It has always been here since God created it. This is a thought of desolation here. It is very lonely to think that we cannot create anything new from the earth. It shows how completely finite we are. Even our thoughts are no different than our ancestry. For thousands of years it has been that way. God created all things from nothing but He did not allow us this same ability through our surroundings. We would like to think that our new computers, softwares, cars and our fully automated society have been created by mankind but underneath it all it still was derived from materials in the earth. It may have been engineered by the desires of man but it still has to be shown to a man from outside influences. I know that if I want bread that I have to use flour, water and yeast but if I want a really great dough-nut then I have to drive to Krispy Kreme (just Kidding). They had to add some different ingredients to make it so good, Right?  After pondering this thought with Jonah in the car I realized that the only God given ability to create something came through the pro-creation of children through all of His creation. We are able to produce seed in ourselves in which He still created. Wow! This is truly a deeper rabbit hole than I have time to write about but one thing is certain! In everything that the Lord created, He gave the power to reproduce after its own kind and likeness. We are still created in His image and so are the generations hereafter. My sons may have some features that resemble me or my wife (Christy) but they also carry their own unique and individual features. What I am trying to say here is that it is in our design to want to reproduce and replenish as God told Noah to do. Now I know Noah had to replenish and was told to never waste His seed but the desire of fathering and nurturing lies within us. This is the only true unexplainable thing to mankind. We can explain how it happens but we cannot explain how a tiny seed can create a miracle. Even science will say from time to time that procreation is still a miracle. The ability to procreate gives mankind hope because we have a need to exist in this world even when we are not present in it. To end: Every herb of the field yields its seed after its own and every tree yields fruit after its own-kind. Let us just know that this is the one thing that knowledge and science can never take away. We only have the ability to pervert it or end it but not the power to make it from nothing. Everything produces seed for this reason. Love Your children and make better choices before you end a life because it will be the destruction of your lineage and a curse to those who are born to your perversions. The realization of my humanity assures me that I am not God!

Scott

Seed to Maturity

Did you know that a seed has to rot in the earth before germination? That's right, it has to be dead and rotting before new life can germinate from it. The typical seed takes 7 to 14 days to spring forth and emerge. That is if it has been properly cast into a prepared work. The ground in which the seed has optimal advantage to become mature has to be prepared. In the natural world we use a few tools to help this process along. It in most cases has to be torn up and turned over to loosen compaction. The soil get so dense and hard from the elements around it that it cannot be seeded upon. There must be something to plow it, fertilize it and then seed and water it. God is our plowman. The harder you become the more He must plow and tear you up. You are the ground in which He wishes to prepare. Prepare for what you may ask? The seed! Christ is that seed in you! He desires to spring forth in you that you may be made to His likeness. Your maturity will only be as glorious as the amount of brokenness you allow God to work in you. He wishes to break you to allow His son Christ Jesus to be seen in every aspect of your life. When people look at you they should bear witness,( weather a believer or not) that there is something positively earth shattering about your presence when you enter a room. Also know this, the seed isn't seen by the natural eye either. It has been enveloped by a shell that must die away to allow for the seed (Christ) to resurrect in you. The way a shell rots away is through intense heat around it. You are that shell that envelopes Him. You must decrease and He will decrease. Just something to think about in this first installment of this series by Scott Huggins.

Spiritual Authority

What is Spiritual Authority in our life? Is it following in the footsteps of those who are older than us? Is it following a man because of his position or title? Could it be following because of a man and his evident giftings or knowledge of the scripture? God forbid! Spiritual authorities are not given because of man and his journey! Spiritual authority in your life is appointed by God! We must discern these things better than this if we are to walk into our prosperity! I am not speaking of earthly riches but the prosperity given to us for our purpose in this life. Our true inheritance. I am a man who has followed too many seeking out what was put in my heart from my conception. I mistook this for approval from my peers and elders. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 5:22, to lay hands on no man suddenly. Interpreting this accurately Paul said to not give charge or impose your hands to any man quickly! He is merely wanting you to see that following because of a mans works, gifts or titles will lead to bring their sins or curses upon yourselves. A Man's works will be evident because it precedes them and also can't be hidden for long if you observe and wait upon the direction of God. A true Spiritual order in your life will be through the direction of a Spiritual Father! Timothy had Paul in this order as Paul had Phebe, Elisha had Elijah, Aaron Had Moses. This pattern in consistent throughout scripture and makes a perfect witness. We see the start of this with Moses and Aaron and Aaron's son's. Moses took the oil and poured it over their head and down to their beard, down to their shoulders and finally down to the hem of their garments. The flow of this anointing took a specific route without its flow being disrupted. When anointing of the Priests took place, all of the oil collected at the hem of their garments. That's where the strongest flow would be found. In scripture the Head symbolizes Christ, a beard symbolizes maturity, the shoulders symbolized government and the garments symbolized the multitudes of people who followed. Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty *God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace." Isaiah is speaking of Christ here. He also states that the Government shall be upon His shoulder. We have such a gross misunderstanding of this. Most teaching today teaches that the government of the world was upon or pressing against Christ but, this is not what is said. It states that the Government was upon His shoulders. Christ brought true government to us. The Kingdom Government! A perfect government if you like. He brought true Spiritual Order. Do you remember Matthew 9:20? "and behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years,came behind Him and touched the hem of His garment" What was happening here? This was not a mere coincidence that she showed up on the scene here. This was to be her purpose. She had an issue of blood. She was considered unclean and could not be touched as long as she had this issue. She had it for twelve long years. True government is symbolized here as well by the number twelve. How many disciples were there? That's right! Twelve. True government. She wanted to touch but the hem of His garment because that is where the strongest flow of the anointing is found. She knew that if she could be healed that she could have relationship with God again. What happens to a society when politics and religion are mingled? It polarizes a people! She was polarized from among the encampment of Israel for twelve long years. She was a type of the Church in the Wilderness (Israel) and she could not have intimate relationship with God until she was healed from her issue. She was diseased with the sin of a corrupted Government. She chose to follow the wrong influences in her life which led to her exile. She knew that if she could just touch the hem of His garment that she would be restored to her inheritance in Christ Jesus. Let us be cautious not to just be led astray by our need for the approval of men. Don't whore yourself out to false god's and become the adulterating church. Find your place in His order and humble yourself before God and allow Him to direct you to the Spiritual Father that you need. If you do not search for the heart of God concerning these things then you can never live out your purpose or see your prosperity. One last thing here to be seen is the story of Elijah and Elisha. What was it that Elisha requested from Elijah when he was taken up? His mantle. The mantle of Elijah was His identity to all men of who he was. Elisha then had a double portion of anointing in his life. He would do greater works than Elijah! "1Cor. 4:15, For though you have ten thousand Instructors (Schoolboys) in Christ, yet you have not many Fathers for in Christ Jesus I have begotten (regenerated) you." It doesn't matter how many school rooms you visit or how many degrees you carry on your wall proclaiming your identity, you will never be connected with God without falling into alignment with His purpose for you. We should not rely on our education from modern institutes where immaturity teaches you but to be led under the direction of your Elijah! That will bring about your double portion. Malachi 4:5-6, God will send you the Prophet Elijah before the great and notable day of the Lord. Humble ourselves and follow him. Put our labors to rest and go! The hearts of the Fathers toward their children (son's) are turning and the hearts of the children are also to turn to their Fathers in these days. Don't let your land be smitten with a curse from God. You will walk a long and barren journey in that wilderness if you are disobedient and search for the approval of schoolboys.

Out of the wilderness

I love this one. This is a nugget to chew on. Have you ever noticed in Matthew 3:1-3 where John the Baptist is preaching? It was in the wilderness! Whoa! Wait a minute! I thought that Israel was in the promise land? Exactly. They were in the land but they had not inherited it yet. After years of being in this promised land they still were not settled. So much so that John had to cry out from the wilderness to be heard. Isn't that odd? Do you remember when God took Moses and Israel out of Egypt? They had crossed over the Red Sea into a wilderness. They stayed there a total of 80 years due to their disobedience and lack of trust. There were also those among them who wished to pitch their tents there. What happened to these people when the cloud moved on? Nothing. They PERISHED! Now lets take a closer look at their departure from Egypt. Egypt was known to the Hebrews to symbolize sin. God delivers them from their sin and miraculously takes them through a redemptive sea. It speaks of crossing through the blood from sin. The next place to visit from there is our wilderness. In fact, where did Jesus go staight to after John the Baptist had Baptized Him? Right, the Wilderness. Do you also remember what the Hebrews said in their disobedience and mumurings there? They said they that they wanted to return to Egypt for it was easier to see the blessing of what was and not what is or is to come. They would rather look back at their Sodom than ahead to the unknown. The past is just that......The Past. Get out of what was and get with what is so that we can usher in that which is to come. Our inhertitence. Now, back to the New Testament. They had to be preached to from the wilderness because they never left it in their hearts. They still journeyed without rest. They may have been in the land but they continued to war, they continued to get invaded, they continued to only believe what they had seen and not what they couldn't see. It was John who preceeded Jesus to help bring us into our inheritence. The wilderness met a crucial fate when John the Baptist was beheaded so that a New Covenant with man could be forged. There is no faith in looking back to the past and there is no faith in reading a map and there is no faith in making our own agenda. There is faith in waiting and seeking the next step ordered of God. (The steps of a righteous man are ordered by God.) Paul said that Faith is what? Evidence of things unseen! Why do we look for signs, miracles and wonders? It is because we want to see what was done in the wilderness and not believe that we are the people in which healing, salvation, promise and an inheritence is given. We are to take up the Name of Christ and go forth with this inheritence. The promise of total deliverance from ourselves and to take on the identity of Christ. I say Go forth and be the ambassedors of Christ to this world who still needs a savior. Look foward to being their Salvation.

Matters of the Heart

I have heard this term used throughout my whole life. I guess I never understood it until recently. I realize that when it comes down to it you either have a healthy heart or an unhealthy heart. I relate these matters to the spirit in which they are presented to others. We must ask ourselves what our motives are before we decide to open our mouths and speak. As for the matters of the heart, this presents pure, transparent and a Christ like motive. If your heart is impure, dark and carnal I see it as the "Heart of the matter". Allow me to explain. Christy "my wife" was confronted by a neighbor who recently decided to knock on our door (in my absence) and give her an ear full about toys in the lawn, bikes and that we do not treat our dog like they think we should treat her. To make a long story short I was outraged when I came home from work to not only hear how he treated my wife but the content and the judgment in which he brought into my home. Then it struck me, I cannot allow his perception of us to dictate who we are. You see impure motives are often a lack of intimacy with those around you. I know I could have march over to his house with a defense or a loaded fist and floored him but that would be just as carnal. Man, I wanted retribution but, I knew that it was not me. So, I went to straighten this matter out. As we spoke, I knew in my heart what God wanted them to see. Him! I was to be like Him and make Him known. The heart of the matter said, "You may see the outside of my home as an eye sore but have you ever considered coming over and observing what goes on inside?" Of course he hadn't! We are extremely busy parents with six boys to raise. It is very difficult to do it all. When will we stop evaluating outwardly to see the real heart of a person(s)? This is a religious spirit in man to judge others by a standard no less than what others think of us. If we adorn the outside of ourselves to look and sound good and the inside is still filthy then are we not seeking the approval of man instead of God? Don't worry about what your peers, neighbors and family think of you! Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling! As for mine, LEAVE IT ALONE! It's mine to worry about. The next time we feel the need to give someone a judgment let us pull the beam from our own eyes first and I bet we will will receive a deeper desire to become more involved with those around us who may need a hand from time to time.